Design Manager

Design Manager Full-time State/Province: Victoria Business Group: DCS Legal Entity: AECOM Australia Pty Ltd Business Line: B&P - Buildings & Places Work Location Model: Hybrid Operating Group: International Primary Location: AU - Melbourne, VIC - Collins Square Company Description Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world. We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

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 following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered. 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.

Why you’ll love working with us: Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year Flex public holidays – swap