Design Manager — Job Description
Job Summary
The Design Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating the design process from concept development through detailed design, construction, implementation, and project handover. The role ensures that designs meet project requirements, technical standards, quality expectations, budget constraints, and agreed timelines while coordinating architects, engineers, consultants, CAD teams, contractors, and other stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the overall design process throughout the project lifecycle.
- Develop design strategies, schedules, deliverables, and coordination plans.
- Review project requirements, specifications, drawings, and design briefs.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams, including architects, engineers, consultants, and CAD/BIM teams.
- Ensure designs comply with project specifications, applicable codes, standards, and statutory requirements.
- Review and approve design deliverables for quality, accuracy, completeness, and constructability.
- Manage design changes, technical queries, RFIs, variations, and design-related issues.
- Coordinate design reviews and ensure comments are properly addressed and closed.
- Monitor design progress against approved schedules and project milestones.
- Identify design risks, clashes, omissions, and potential constructability issues and coordinate timely solutions.
- Coordinate with the Project Manager, construction team, procurement team, clients, consultants, and contractors.
- Ensure design decisions align with project budget, programme, quality, and performance objectives.
- Support value engineering and design optimization initiatives.
- Review technical submissions, material specifications, shop drawings, and method-related design information where applicable.
- Oversee the preparation and maintenance of design documentation, drawing registers, design trackers, and revision records.
- Ensure effective document control and management of design information.
- Support BIM coordination and clash detection where applicable.
- Attend project, design, coordination, and client meetings and provide technical updates.
- Manage external consultants and specialist design subcontractors where required.
- Support site teams with design clarifications and technical resolutions during project execution.
- Ensure final as-built drawings, operation manuals, and other design-related handover documents are completed.
- Promote continuous improvement, innovation, and best practices within the design function.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a relevant design discipline.
- 7–12 years of relevant design and project experience, with demonstrated design management experience.
- Strong experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and complex projects.
- Excellent knowledge of design development, technical coordination, and project delivery processes.
- Strong understanding of construction methods, engineering principles, applicable codes, and industry standards.
- Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, BIM, or other relevant design software.
- Knowledge of BIM coordination and clash detection is an advantage.
- Strong project planning, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under tight deadlines.
- Professional registration or relevant industry certification is an advantage.
Key Skills
- Design management
- Multidisciplinary coordination
- Design review and quality control
- BIM / Revit coordination
- Technical problem solving
- Design planning and scheduling
- Value engineering
- Risk management
- Consultant and contractor management
- Stakeholder management
- Document control
- Construction coordination
- Leadership and team management
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Design deliverables completed on schedule
- Design quality and accuracy
- Number of design errors and rework
- Timely closure of design comments and RFIs
- Design coordination and clash resolution
- Compliance with project specifications and standards
- Design-related cost and programme performance
- Consultant and design team performance
- Successful project handover and documentation
