Design Manager - Defence

Beca; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Diversity and inclusion culture

Parental leave up to 14 weeks

Career growth & accreditation support

Job summary

Beca is seeking a Senior Defence Design Manager to lead the design function for Defence Estate and Infrastructure projects from offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra or Melbourne. You will manage the design team, ensure alignment with the design management plan, and supervise consultants and subconsultants across all design stages.

The role requires a tertiary qualification in engineering or architecture, extensive Defence design experience, and eligibility for the Australian Baseline

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification aligned to engineering, architecture or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience as a Design Manager in an engineering consultancy with Defence focus.
• Current Australian Government Security Clearance at Baseline level or ability to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Be a role model for collaborative culture within and beyond the Design team.
• Coordinate design inputs, program, deliverables and communications across the project.
• Develop and own Design Management Plans and ensure design deliverables meet project briefs.
• Oversee quality of design deliverables and compliance with end user requirements.
• Lead design-related activities of subconsultants and specialists.
• Develop a detailed Design Program outlining activities, milestones and dependencies.

Skills

Design management

Multidisciplinary teams

Defence sector experience

Communication skills

Security clearance

Education

Engineering or Architecture degree

Job description

About our Advisory team
Just like the world around us, business is evolving, whether it’s through innovative thought, seamless solutions or through the personal attributes of its people. Our Advisory team partner with our clients to develop a deep understanding of their needs, are proactive in the markets and communities we work in, and share a commitment to making every day better.
We embrace the fact that people are our greatest asset. It’s our people that set us apart, and who our clients keep coming back to. Passionate and dedicated about what we do and the culture we have developed, we believe that the key to our success is the teamwork and collaboration we have fostered, not only within our Advisory team, but right across the Beca Group.

The Opportunity
Due to team growth, current projects and strong project pipeline, we are seeking senior Defence Design Management Professionals to apply the skills to deliver solutions across Defence Estate and Infrastructure projects and join our ranks in either our Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra or Melbourne offices.
The Design Manager is an essential function for the appropriate planning and coordination of Beca’s design solution to Defence. They ensure that the overall design intent and direction is upheld throughout the planning and delivery phases and provide guidance to the wider design team.
This role involves managing the design team, including all design, design-related, and documentation activities (such as report writing) of the design team, design subconsultants, and specialist consultants. The Design Manager assumes responsibility for the overall delivery of the Design Services in line with the design management plan, other project plans and objectives and requirements of the program of works.

To be considered for this role, you will require:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification aligned to engineering, architecture, or related discipline

• Demonstrated experience as a Design Manager in an engineering consultancy environment, with a background in managing multidisciplinary design teams with a focus on the Defence Estate

• A current Australian Government Security Clearance at Baseline level or higher (or possess the ability to obtain), for which you will require Australian Citizenship

• Strong attention to detail and exceptional communication skills with an ability to build relationships both externally and internally

• A positive and tenacious attitude with an ability to make things happen and alignment with our company purpose to “Make Everyday Better”

Well regarded attributes:

• Relevant professional membership and accreditation/chartership

• Experience leading the development of winning bid submissions

Key responsibilities include:

• Being a role model for the collaborative culture within and beyond the Design team

• Technical coordination and delivery of the design solutions throughout Defence’s design phases

• Development, implementation, ongoing management and ownership of Design Management Plans

• Responsible for the quality of design deliverables, ensuring all design and documentation meet both end user and functional requirements established in the project brief

• Coordinate design inputs, design program, design deliverables and project communications across the project including activities such as value management and Safety in Design

• Develop and deliver to a detailed Design Program outlining all required activities, tasks and critical milestones

A career with Beca will provide you with:

• Flexibility & Wellbeing: We recognise that achieving a work-life balance is unique to everyone. Enjoy flexible working options to manage your personal and family priorities, along with dedicated leave for wellbeing and community engagement

• Belonging & Ownership: Join a diverse and inclusive team where collaboration and creativity thrive. Bring your whole self to work and take advantage of unique shareholder opportunities to share in our collective success

• Parental Leave: Take time for what matters most with up to 14 weeks of fully paid parental leave, inclusive of all genders

• Career Growth & Development: Your growth is our priority! Benefit from continuous learning through our training programmes and support for professional accreditation, including pathways to Chartership with Engineers Australia. Work alongside industry leaders and gain hands‑on experience to empower your career potential

Beca prides itself on supporting a diverse and inclusive culture – open to inputs from creative people of all genders, ethnicity, identity, thought and experiences.

Who is Beca?
Beca is one of the largest employee-owned professional services consultancies in the Asia-Pacific region. Our team of over 4000 is diverse enough to bring a wide range of perspectives and expertise to every client and challenge, creating resourceful, smart solutions from our collective experience and insights.
‘Creative people together transforming our world’ is our vision. It reflects our culture, our aspirations, and our purpose – to make every day better. With our four values – partnership, tenacity, enjoyment, and care – sitting at the heart of everything we do, reflecting the way we work every day with each other and our clients.
At Beca we make every day better for our clients, our people and our community and your involvement makes it possible. Our size and agility mean you’re not just on the fringes; you’re making a visible difference, partnering to develop and deliver solutions from the ground up.
As a people-focused business, we understand that work-life balance means a lot of different things to different people and that it’s not always easy juggling work with everything else life throws at us. This is why we are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements for all opportunities in the Beca team.