Design Manager

DESIGN MANAGER – PRE-CONSTRUCTION

• Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
• Major Multi-Tower High-Rise Development
• City-Shaping Mixed-Use Project

A major integrated development and construction group is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join its Pre-Construction Team and take ownership of design management across a significant scope of works on a landmark multi-tower high-rise development valued in excess of $2 billion. This is a rare opportunity to become involved in one of the Gold Coast's most significant mixed-use developments, comprising multiple residential towers, hotel, retail, commercial and public realm components delivered over several stages.

Reporting to the Development and Pre-Construction leadership team, the Design Manager will be responsible for leading the design process from concept development through planning, design development, consultant coordination, documentation and construction readiness. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the project achieves its design, commercial, programme and buildability objectives while coordinating a broad range of consultants and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design development process across allocated project stages and towers.
• Coordinate architects, engineers, specialist consultants and authority stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.
• Manage consultant deliverables to ensure compliance with programme, budget and project objectives.
• Facilitate design coordination workshops and design review meetings.
• Drive design resolution to minimise construction risk and maximise buildability.
• Manage design interfaces between architectural, structural, civil, services and specialist disciplines.
• Review and challenge design solutions to ensure commercial, operational and construction objectives are achieved.
• Monitor design progress against key project milestones and approval requirements.
• Support development approval, planning approval and authority approval processes.
• Coordinate value engineering and design optimisation initiatives.
• Work closely with commercial, estimating and delivery teams during procurement and pre-construction planning.
• Support construction teams during project mobilisation and delivery phases.
• Maintain design governance, consultant accountability and document control processes.

Candidate Requirements

• Degree qualified in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Design Management or a related discipline with demonstrated experience in Design Management on large-scale residential, mixed-use, hotel or commercial developments.
• Strong understanding of high-rise construction methodologies and buildability principles.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary consultant teams through complex design programmes.
• Proven capability managing stakeholder relationships across development, design and construction environments.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance design quality, programme and cost objectives.
• Excellent communication, leadership and coordination skills.
• Experience working for developers, builders, project management consultancies or integrated development and construction groups will be highly regarded.

Ideal Background

This role may suit:

• Senior Design Managers seeking involvement in a landmark city-shaping project.
• Project Architects with substantial high-rise delivery experience looking to move into a broader leadership role.
• Design Managers currently working for Tier 1, Tier 2 or major private developers.

What's on Offer

• Opportunity to work on one of Australia's most significant high-rise developments.
• Long-term project pipeline with genuine career growth opportunities.
• Exposure to a multi-billion-dollar mixed-use development from pre-construction through delivery.
• Direct involvement in key project and design decisions.
• Ability to influence design outcomes on a city-defining project.
• Attractive remuneration package commensurate with experience.

This role offers the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping one of the Gold Coast's most ambitious developments while working alongside a highly experienced development and delivery team.


To apply forward your resume to bronwyn@1recruitintl.com with reference Y6RWV7X5.