Job Summary
The Senior Design Manager leads the design management process across real estate projects from concept to IFC, ensuring that architectural, structural, MEP, and specialist designs are fully coordinated, compliant, buildable, and aligned with the project vision, budget, schedule, and brand standards. The role manages consultants and stakeholders, drives design decisions, and ensures smooth transition into tendering and construction.
Key Responsibilities
- Design Leadership & Governance
- Lead the design development process through all stages:
Concept Schematic Detailed Design Tender IFC
- Ensure design deliverables meet project objectives, quality standards, and market positioning.
- Establish design governance, reporting, and approval workflows.
- Consultant Management
- Manage external consultants including:
- Architecture
- Structural
- MEP
- Landscape
- Interior Design
- Faade
- Traffic / Infrastructure
- Sustainability / Fire & Life Safety
- Define consultant scope, deliverables, and submission schedules.
- Lead design workshops, coordination meetings, and design reviews.
- Design Coordination (Multi-Discipline Integration)
- Ensure full coordination between all disciplines and eliminate clashes early.
- Drive technical alignment between architecture and MEP/structural systems.
- Review design outputs for:
- functionality and user experience
- constructability
- maintainability and operational efficiency
- compliance with codes and regulations
- Design Brief & Design Development
- Support preparation and management of:
- design brief
- area schedules and unit mix
- design guidelines and standards
- materials and finishes strategy
- Ensure design solutions meet commercial requirements (NFA/GFA efficiency, sellable areas, etc.).
- Cost Control & Value Engineering
- Coordinate with Cost Consultants and Commercial team to keep design within budget.
- Lead Value Engineering (VE) exercises and optimization proposals.
- Track design changes and their cost impacts.
- Authority Approvals & Permitting Support
- Coordinate design submissions and responses for approvals:
- municipality
- civil defense / fire approvals
- utilities and infrastructure authorities
- Ensure all approval requirements are integrated into design outputs.
- Tender Support
- Lead preparation of tender-ready design packages including:
- drawings, specifications, and schedules
- scope alignment and technical clarifications
- design intent documents
- Support tender evaluation, contractor clarifications, and technical recommendations.
- Construction Phase Design Support
- Support the construction team by ensuring design compliance and intent during execution:
- review shop drawings and material submittals
- respond to RFIs and technical queries
- manage design changes and consultant inputs
- Participate in site inspections and design coordination meetings as required.
- Quality, Handover & As-Built Coordination
- Support snagging, handover, and close-out processes.
- Ensure completion of design documentation:
- as-built drawings
- O&M manuals (with MEP teams)
- warranties and certifications
- Ensure final product meets the project vision and quality benchmark.
Key Deliverables
- Approved design brief and design strategy
- Concept and schematic design approvals
- Coordinated design packages (DD + IFC)
- Design coordination reports and clash resolution logs
- Authority submission packages and approvals tracking
- Tender-ready drawings/specifications
- Design change logs and technical decisions register
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture / Engineering (Master's is a plus)
- Minimum 1015 years experience in:
- design management
- real estate development
- consultant coordination
- Strong knowledge of:
- design stages and deliverables
- authority approvals
- construction methods and coordination
Skills & Competencies
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- High-level coordination and stakeholder management
- Strong design judgment and technical decision-making
- Commercial understanding (budget, value engineering, market positioning)
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
- Strong documentation and reporting skills
Software Skills (Preferred)
- AutoCAD / Revit (BIM understanding preferred)
- Navisworks (clash detection preferred)
- MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Bluebeam / Procore / Aconex (nice to have)
