Design Office Manager

Talent Tapestry; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Tapestry is seeking a Design Office Manager in Centurion to lead formwork and scaffolding design activities. This on-site role reports to the Technical Manager and requires strong technical depth and leadership in temporary works.

You will oversee the full design lifecycle, set engineering standards, mentor a team of engineers and draughtsmen, and liaise with clients and internal stakeholders to deliver safe, cost-effective solutions.

Qualifications

• Civil Engineering degree required.
• Experience in formwork/scaffolding design in construction/engineering environment.
• Leadership experience of technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee complete formwork and scaffolding design process ensuring accuracy and on-time delivery.
• Review and approve all engineering designs produced by the team.
• Lead technical consultations with clients and internal teams.
• Ensure adherence to OHSA and safety standards.
• Mentor and develop Engineering Designers and Draughting professionals.
• Coordinate with sales, operations for alignment and technical clarity.
• Participate in resource planning and report progress.
• Collaborate closely with departments to ensure alignment and technical clarity.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Problem solving

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

Civil Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Formwork CAD tools

Job description

Design Office Manager – Scaffolding & Formwork Engineering (Global Leader)

A global scaffolding and formwork solutions provider is seeking an experienced Design Office Manager to join its Centurion branch. This is a full-time, on-site role, reporting directly to the Technical Manager.

This opportunity is ideal for a qualified Civil Engineer with strong technical depth in temporary works, formwork, and scaffolding design and proven leadership capability.

About the Role

The Design Office Manager ensures the delivery of technically robust, safe, and cost‑effective formwork and scaffolding solutions across standard, complex, and special applications. You will oversee the full design lifecycle, uphold engineering standards, and act as a key technical partner to clients and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and organise the complete formwork and scaffolding design process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and on‑time delivery.
• Review, check, and approve all engineering designs produced by the team.
• Provide technically effective solutions that balance client requirements with commercial efficiency.
• Lead technical consultations with clients and internal teams through meetings, site visits, and digital platforms.
• Ensure adherence to temporary works best practices, engineering directives, and safety standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Engineering Designers and Draughting professionals.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and technical oversight to support continuous improvement.
• Communicate engineering strategies, standards, and directives clearly and consistently.
• Participate in weekly resource planning meetings and report on project progress.
• Collaborate closely with sales, operations, and other departments to ensure alignment and technical clarity.
• Contribute to technical negotiations and client meetings, representing the engineering function with confidence and professionalism.
• Maintain proactive awareness of OHSA requirements and ensure compliance within the design office.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in Civil Engineering
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in formwork/scaffolding design within a construction or engineering environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing technical teams.
• Strong proficiency in CAD systems (experience with specialised formwork/scaffolding CAD tools advantageous).
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and technical problem‑solving skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong organisational and planning capability.
• Professional registration (PrEng/PrTech) or progress toward registration is beneficial.
• Valid driver’s license.