Design Manager - Property and Commercial

Western Sydney University; Richmond; On-site; AUD 116,636 - 129,479; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness Passport

Onsite Childcare

Financial Benefits

Holistic Support

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Richmond, Australia is looking for a Design Manager to shape its campus environments. This full-time, ongoing role at HEW Level 8 involves leading the development of sustainable design concepts, managing external consultants, and ensuring compliance with strategic objectives. Ideal candidates will have tertiary qualifications in relevant fields and experience in design coordination. Benefits include fitness access, onsite childcare, and salary sacrifice options. Submit your application through the university's online recruitment system.

Qualifications

• Experience managing design processes including consultant coordination and stakeholder liaison.
• Strong communication capabilities with confidence in negotiation and presentation.
• Skilled in regulatory compliance and documentation across infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead front-end design outcomes that shape the future of campuses.
• Oversee and certify design documentation to meet timelines and budget requirements.
• Coordinate and guide external design consultants to ensure high-quality deliverables.

Skills

Design coordination

Consultant engagement

Stakeholder partnerships

Regulatory compliance

Presentation skills

Education

Tertiary qualifications in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture or urban design

Tools

Adobe Suite

ArchiCAD

AutoCAD

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Job description

• Full-time, Ongoing position at HEW Level 8.
• Hawkesbury campus with flexible working arrangements.
• Salary: $116,636 – $129,479 per annum, plus 17 percent Super and Leave Loading.

Lead front-end design outcomes that shape the future of Western’s campuses.

The Opportunity

As the Design Manager, you will play a critical role in shaping the University’s built environment by leading the development of design concepts that align with institutional priorities. Working within Property and Commercial Operations, you will influence the planning and delivery of projects ranging from minor refurbishments to major campus developments. Your work will contribute to the University's transformation agenda, ensuring projects are functional, sustainable, and aligned to strategic objectives.

You will bring expertise in design coordination, consultant engagement, and stakeholder partnerships. Reporting to the Director Planning and Design, you will manage design documentation, guide compliance pathways, and support project teams with design leadership and technical insight. Your contribution will elevate design standards across the portfolio and ensure that future infrastructure reflects best practice and Western’s values.

In this role, you will also support procurement activities, evaluate consultant submissions, promote sustainability targets, and maintain consistent engagement with industry thought leadership. You will play a key part in advocating design excellence across the University's physical environment.

What Success Looks Like:

• Develop design concepts that deliver functional, compliant, and sustainable project outcomes.
• Coordinate and guide external design consultants to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Facilitate structured stakeholder engagement that captures user needs and ensures project alignment.
• Oversee and certify design documentation to meet timelines, quality standards, and budget requirements.
• Contribute to procurement processes and evaluation of design proposals.

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• Tertiary qualifications in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture or urban design.
• Experience managing design processes including consultant coordination and stakeholder liaison.
• Skilled in regulatory compliance, documentation, and problem-solving across infrastructure projects.
• Strong communication capabilities with confidence in negotiation and presentation.
• Proficiency in relevant design and productivity software (Adobe Suite, ArchiCAD or AutoCAD, PowerPoint, Excel, Word).

We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Beyond a rewarding career, we offer a suite of benefits designed to support your physical, financial, and family wellbeing:

• Fitness Passport: Access hundreds of gyms and pools across the state.
• Onsite Childcare: Convenient facilities with exclusive staff discounts and salary packaging options.
• Financial Benefits: Salary sacrifice options for onsite parking and novated motor vehicle leasing,
• Holistic Support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) along with discounted retail and private health cover.

Position Enquiries

Direct Chaya Bratoeva, Director Planning and Design via [e-mail]. Please include the job reference code REF593V.

Closing Date: 11:59pm, Sunday 22 February 2026.

Working Rights: You must provide evidence of full-time working rights in Australia at application.

How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered.

We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For Reasonable Adjustments during the application process, please contact [e-mail].

About Western

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.