Senior Design Manager

Redpath Partners; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Redpath Partners is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to lead design management across major construction projects in Melbourne. You will oversee the design process from briefing and concept through to documentation and delivery, ensuring alignment with client expectations, programme and budget.

You will drive value engineering, manage consultants and internal teams, and mentor the design group while maintaining high standards of safety, quality and coordination.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of design management experience on major projects.
• Engineering degree or related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of design coordination, construction delivery and consultant management.
• Proven capability in value engineering, cost management, design risk and QA.
• Commercial acumen balancing design quality, buildability, programme and budget.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership including mentoring teams and driving performance.
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead design management activities from inception through delivery.
• Manage multidisciplinary design consultants, contractors and internal teams.
• Review design documentation for buildability, safety-in-design and compliance.
• Drive value engineering, cost optimisation and innovative design solutions.
• Monitor progress, variations and costs to support programme and budget certainty.
• Contribute to tenders, bids and project proposals to improve outcomes.
• Manage consultant procurement, scope and fee proposals.
• Build strong client and stakeholder relationships and provide design advice.
• Lead, mentor and develop design team members for collaboration and performance.
• Contribute to design management systems, business planning and efficiencies.

Skills

Design management

Value engineering

Cost management

Design coordination

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

An opportunity exists for an experienced Senior Design Manager to lead design management across major construction projects. This role will oversee the design process from early-stage briefing and concept development through to documentation and project delivery, ensuring design outcomes align with client expectations, technical requirements, programme and budget. Working closely with clients, consultants, sub contractors and internal project teams, you will provide technical leadership, drive value engineering and design optimisation, and contribute to broader business planning and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Lead design management activities from project inception through to delivery, including design briefs, consultant engagement and scope definition.
• Manage multidisciplinary design consultants, contractors and internal teams to achieve high-quality, coordinated design outcomes.
• Review design documentation, technical compliance, buildability and safety-in-design requirements.
• Drive value engineering, cost optimisation and innovative design solutions aligned with project budgets and commercial objectives.
• Monitor design progress, variations, approvals and associated costs to support programme and budget certainty.
• Provide design input into tenders, bids and project proposals, identifying opportunities to improve project outcomes.
• Manage consultant procurement, fee proposals and performance expectations.
• Build strong client and stakeholder relationships, providing design advice and identifying opportunities to add value.
• Lead, mentor and develop design team members, fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to design management systems, business planning and operational efficiencies.

About you

• 10+ years' experience in design management across major projects, upper tier construction ideally.
• A degree in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong technical knowledge of design coordination, construction delivery and consultant management.
• Proven capability in value engineering, cost management, design risk and quality assurance.
• Commercial acumen, with the ability to balance design quality, buildability, programme and budget.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including mentoring teams and driving performance.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

About us

Our client is a reputed Tier 2 Contractor delivery complex, mission critical construction projects including Multi Billion AUD healthcare, bio and data centres.