Design Manager - Head Contractor - Data Centre Projects

Amida Recruitment; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Amida Recruitment is assisting a leading Australian head contractor to grow its Data Centre design team in Melbourne. A Design Manager is sought to lead design development through IFC and construction, ensuring buildable, compliant outcomes on hyperscale facilities.

Ideal candidates have 5–15+ years in complex projects, a relevant tertiary qualification, and proven stakeholder management. This is a permanent full‑time role with challenging work and clear career progression.

Qualifications

• Proven Design Management experience delivering large-scale commercial, industrial, or complex building projects.
• Strong understanding of design coordination, consultant management and project delivery.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading and coordinating all design activities from design development through to IFC and construction
• Driving alignment between design deliverables and construction milestones
• Working closely with the Project Manager, site team and consultants to proactively manage design risks, opportunities and project outcomes
• Managing consultant teams and key project stakeholders throughout the design process
• Ensuring design documentation meets project requirements, Australian Standards and statutory approval requirements
• Collaborating with Services and Digital Engineering teams to optimise coordination outcomes
• Identifying and resolving design coordination, buildability and compliance issues
• Managing the effective handover of coordinated design information to project delivery teams
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with consultants, subcontractors and internal stakeholders
• Supporting the delivery of highly coordinated building services and mission‑critical infrastructure packages

Skills

Stakeholder management

Design leadership

Project coordination

Communication

Education

Tertiary qualification in Architecture/Engineering/Construction Management

Job description

Join one of Australia’s largest data centre builders, delivering mission-critical infrastructure projects. Work on complex, large-scale data centre developments driven by unprecedented industry growth. Excellent opportunity to influence design outcomes and work alongside leading design, services and project delivery teams.

Great opportunity to join one of Australia’s fastest-growing design and construct head contractors, delivering complex data centre projects and helping shape the infrastructure powering Australia’s digital future.

Our client is a leading innovation-driven construction company and is continuing to expand its Data Centre team by hiring an experienced Design Manager to join its growing business.

Projects range from hyperscale developments through to highly specialised, mission‑critical facilities, requiring exceptional design coordination, technical expertise and design leadership.

You will play a key role in managing and coordinating all design-related aspects of projects from design development through to Issued for Construction (IFC) and construction delivery. Working closely with project teams, consultants, Services and Digital Engineering professionals, you will help ensure high‑quality, compliant and buildable outcomes across highly technical, services‑intensive projects.

Candidate will ideally come from a head contractor background with new build or complex services experience. Data Centre experience is ideal but not mandatory.

Years of experience: 5-15+ years

Responsibilities

• Leading and coordinating all design activities from design development through to IFC and construction
• Driving alignment between design deliverables and construction milestones
• Working closely with the Project Manager, site team and consultants to proactively manage design risks, opportunities and project outcomes
• Managing consultant teams and key project stakeholders throughout the design process
• Ensuring design documentation meets project requirements, Australian Standards and statutory approval requirements
• Collaborating with Services and Digital Engineering teams to optimise coordination outcomes
• Identifying and resolving design coordination, buildability and compliance issues
• Managing the effective handover of coordinated design information to project delivery teams
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with consultants, subcontractors and internal stakeholders
• Supporting the delivery of highly coordinated building services and mission‑critical infrastructure packages

Qualifications and Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or similar
• Proven Design Management experience delivering large-scale commercial, industrial, or complex building projects
• Experience working for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 head contractor within the building construction sector
• Strong understanding of design coordination, consultant management and project delivery
• Experience managing projects from design development through to construction delivery
• Strong understanding of Australian codes, standards and approval processes
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple disciplines and interfaces across complex project environments
• Passion for design excellence and delivering high-quality built outcomes

This is a permanent full-time position providing a great opportunity to work with a successful and growing organisation who offer challenging work and the potential for career progression.