Design Manager

After approximately 7 years in a Design Coordinator role, your next role is promotion into a Design Manager role. A Design Manager reports to the Project Manager for each project they’re working within, unless they are Head Office based and working in early contractor involvement or design work in tenders.

After approximately 10 years and a minimum of 3-4 projects in a Design Manager role the next step is promotion into a Design Director role, providing the construction company has this role available. The Design Director reports into the Project Director.

Design Director working on Tier 1 projects manage a large team of Design Managers and Design Coordinators.

The standard pathway to become a Design Manager begins with either completing a Bachelor of Architecture or Bachelor of Construction Management.

A Bachelor of Construction Management is 4 years long and on completion you’ll either be accepted into a Tier 1 Graduate Program or hired into an assistant Contract Administrator, Contract Administrator or Project Coordinator job.

A Bachelor or Architecture is also 4 year degree and the usual next step is employment within a commercial architecture firm (if you’re aiming to become a Design Manager). Another option is to take the Graduate pathway (as above) and begin your career directly within a construction firm.

Qualified architects can step straight into a Design Manager role after 7-10 years of architecture experience in a commercial architecture firm.

Design Management is a diverse role that keeps you on your toes, and can ultimately be a lot of fun.
With so many people involved in the design and construction of every new project, there needs to be someone who oversees the overall process for all the various minor design aspects of the building.

As a Design Manager, you are tasked with integrating multiple building designs into a single finished product that is ready for construction. While this is a lot of responsibility to take on, the reward is that you get to leave your mark on the final, fully constructed building.

When Design Managers do their job well, the result is that the actual construction of the design is executed smoothly and seamlessly, with minimal delays or unexpected costs.

Tasks include:

• The overseeing and management of a project’s building design; right down to the nuts and bolts
• The establishment of clear and concise design protocols, and ensuring all designers involved in the project strictly adhere to them
• Clear communication between each and every contributing party; be it lead designers, sub-contractors, project managers, consultants and more
• Efficient delivery of well-structured design proposals which clearly convey every aspect of the projected building design

Design Managers need to be able to keep a close rein on a project’s budget and time constraints, and problem-solving is also an essential skill. In order to be noticed by hiring managers seeking someone for Design Management positions, your Conecta profile should clearly convey that you possess these skills.

Check the latest jobs on Conecta for current Design Manager opportunities and apply directly to construction company.

Don’t forget you’re dealing directly with the employer when you submit an application: that could be either the Director, the Construction Manager or the HR Team.

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