Associate Director - Design Management

Associate Director - Design Management

Due to a growing pipeline of work, we are looking for a multi-disciplinary design manager to join our Building Engineering Team. This role shapes technical strategy, defines client requirements and leads integrated multi-disciplinary design teams. We are looking for a leader who can manage the full design team – ensuring cohesive, high-quality outcomes for our clients.

This role is based in Sydney.

How you'll make a difference:

• Lead and integrate large multidisciplinary design teams, driving technical coordination across architecture, civils, structural, MEP, fire, security, acoustics and specialist consultants, ensuring fully integrated solutions.
• Act as the primary client interface, engaging with stakeholders and end users to extract operational requirements, translate them into technical briefs, and manage evolving scope within secure environments.
• Own the front-end design strategy, establishing project execution plans, technical assurance processes, risk registers and programme controls from concept through detailed design.
• Manage programme, commercial and governance obligations, ensuring delivery in line with DSC or framework requirements, maintaining compliance with Defence standards, security protocols, and regulatory controls.
• Provide technical leadership and assurance, chairing design reviews, challenging discipline leads, resolving cross-discipline conflicts, ensuring buildability, safety, resilience and long-term asset performance.

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Ideally, 12+ years' experience, with a strong technical grounding before transitioning into design management or multidisciplinary project leadership.
• Proven track record delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects across defence, healthcare, aviation and/or sports infrastructure
• Experience leading full design teams and acting as the Design Manager/Consultants Representative of contact for clients and key stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of program control, commercial risk, technical governance and compliance frameworks.
• Credibility and confidence to challenge technical specialists while maintaining collaborative team dynamics.

Please note, given the nature of the role – Australian Citizenship is required with prior defence clearance highly advantageous.