Freelance Design Manager

Fawkes & Reece Group; Brighton; On-site; AUD 125,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece Group is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join a major project in the water/wastewater sector. The role focuses on leading design delivery, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring safety, time, budget, and quality requirements are met.

The successful candidate will manage design programmes, submissions, and RFIs while maintaining strong relationships with the client and project stakeholders. Prior experience in water infrastructure is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Design Manager in infrastructure delivery.
• Experience delivering water or wastewater projects.
• Strong design coordination and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process across all project stages.
• Oversee design programmes, submissions, changes and RFIs.
• Ensure designs meet Building Regulations and water sector standards.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and maintain client relationships.
• Identify design risks and resolve issues to support delivery.
• Coordinate designs with construction to minimise delays.

Skills

Design management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Job description

Reference: DP1429_1792424176
Posted: October 19, 2026

e are seeking an experienced Design Manager to join a leading contractor on a major project. This is an excellent opportunity to take a key role in managing design delivery, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and ensuring the project is delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.

Must have previous experience working on water or wastewater infrastructure projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the design process throughout all stages of the project.
• Manage design programmes, technical submissions, design changes and requests for information.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant Building Regulations, industry standards and water sector requirements.
• Monitor design quality, ensuring technical solutions meet project specifications and client expectations.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams, consultants, subcontractors and specialist suppliers.
• Maintain effective relationships with Southern Water, the client, consultants and the wider project delivery team.
• Identify and manage design risks, resolving technical issues to support project delivery.
• Ensure designs are coordinated with construction activities to minimise delays and avoid unnecessary rework.

Requirements:

• Proven experience as a Design Manager within a main contractor or infrastructure delivery environment.
• Previous experience delivering water or wastewater infrastructure projects, ideally within the Southern Water framework.
• Experience managing complex construction or civil engineering projects from design development through to completion.
• Strong knowledge of technical design coordination, design management processes and relevant industry standards.
• Understanding of water industry regulations, environmental requirements and health and safety legislation.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver design packages in line with project programmes and budgets.