Senior Design Manager

AECOM; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM in South Africa seeks a Senior Design Manager to lead day-to-day design management on complex projects within the EC Africa team. You will monitor status, budget, risks, and ensure alignment with AECOM PM practices and project governance.

Strong technical background in multidisciplinary engineering and the ability to advise project delivery teams on commercial health, scope changes, and approvals are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in built environment with 8+ years post-graduate exp.
• B-Tech/National Higher Diploma with 9+–10+ years exp.
• National Diploma with 10+–11+ years exp.
• PM related tertiary qualification with 9+ years exp.
• Registration as PrEng/PrArch/PrCPM or PMI certifications

Responsibilities

• Undertakes full day to day design management on complex projects.
• Analyze project status, budget, risks and reporting metrics.
• Prepare cost proposals and project reports for stakeholders.
• Coordinate design teams and ensure quality reviews.
• Collaborate with Lead Office PMs/DMs and clients on scope & requirements.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Financial awareness

Client collaboration

Education

Honours degree in built environment

B-Tech degree in built environment

National Higher Diploma in built environment

National Diploma in built environment

PM related tertiary qualification

Job description

Company Description

AECOM’s Enterprise Capabilities team is looking for a Senior Design Manager to join our team in our South Africa offices.

About Enterprise Capabilities

Fundamental to our Think and Act Globally strategy and digital adoption, Enterprise Capabilities (EC) is AECOM’s primary vehicle for workshare. Operating across geographic boundaries and time-zones, EC partners with regional and Global Business Line project teams to provide technical expertise, accelerate delivery and keep AECOM competitive in the industry.

With a team of over 3000 technical professionals located across nine countries and remote technical anchors, EC teams are trusted to deliver high-quality, specialist services that help to fill capability gaps, resourcing needs and technical constraints on projects of all scopes and sizes.

Job Description

Undertakes full day to day Design Management role on more complex projects or on a range of smaller but more challenging projects or running a component of a major project. Technical Excellence Delivery of EC Africa Projects, understand status, budget, risks, etc.

Here’s what you'll be doing:

• Understands and embrace AECOM PM’s best practices, and AECOM’s PDS and EC GEPs


• Has a solid Technical Background on Multidisciplinary Engineering Projects and can contribute to technical discussions when needed


• Undertakes the full responsibility and tasks of the design management of projects


• Able to analyse all types of projects commercially and advise the Project Delivery Teams of the commercial health of their projects and highlights concerns in advance.


• Prepares and assists in various levels of project reporting. Key contributor in the preparation of the monthly status reports.


• Reviews and approves output from project cost and schedule systems. Prepares or reviews presentations based on system output.


• Delivers effective communication, inclusive of clients and team members, to clarify expectations and requirements


• Prepare cost proposals for projects or programs.


• Prepare project reports, KPIs and ensures that Quality Procedures are followed within EC Africa, and multi-centric Projects that are managed in EC Africa.


• Collaborate and coordinate closely with the Lead Office Project Manager and design teams


• Ensures assigned design teams effectively coordinate with each other


• Responsible for ensuring that any additional work/changes in scope are approved by clients


• Ensures that quality reviews are conducted and that the appropriate Lead Verifiers are assigned to the projects


• Collaborate with the client to confirm the design approach and that it satisfies the client scope of services and expectations


• Supports other Africa EC Lead PMs/DMs in their day to day duties and project discussions.

Qualifications

• Between 8 and 11 years of experience


• Honours degree in built environment field of study with a minimum of eight (8) years' relevant post-graduate experience


• B-Tech degree in built environment field of study with a minimum of nine (9) years’ relevant post-graduate experience


• National Higher Diploma in built environment field of study with a minimum of ten (10) years’ relevant post-graduate experience


• National Diploma in built environment field of study with a minimum of eleven (11) years’ relevant post-graduate experience


• Tertiary qualification in Project Management related field of study, such as procurement, quantity surveying, engineering, architecture, planning, contracting, etc with a minimum of nine (9) years' relevant post-graduate experience


• Required:


• Registration as PrEng with ECSA, OR


• Registration as PrArch with SACAP, OR


• Registration as PrCPM with SACPCMP (PrCPM), OR


• Certification as PMP / PgMP / PfMP / PMI-SP / PMI-ACP with PMI

Additional Information

At AECOM, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity

At AECOM, our Freedom to Grow philosophy supports flexibility and balance to help our people thrive. As part of this approach, we ask all hybrid employees to work from an AECOM office at least three days per week.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously.

To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.