Senior Design Manager

The Team

We are a global, independent, multi-disciplinary consultancy delivering sustainable engineering and design solutions across the built environment. With over 1,200 engineers and designers across 29 locations, we apply our expertise to local market conditions to deliver resilient, low-carbon engineering solutions. We are 100% partner-owned and are proud to have been named Building Magazine's Engineering Consultant of the Year in 2024, 2022, and 2021.

Our data centre team has been leading mission-critical design since 2006, delivering over 2,000MW of capacity globally. With a reputation for engineering excellence and sustainability, we've partnered with some of the world's most high-profile clients to create energy-efficient, low-emission data centres that set new standards for resilience and innovation. Recognised as Data Centre Consultancy of the Year in 2025, our team continues to push boundaries in design and delivery.

In Australia, our specialist data centre team has been growing steadily across our Sydney and Melbourne offices, forming a key part of our wider APAC and global network. Working collaboratively with our integrated architectural and localisation partners, we offer an engineering-led approach that supports clients within their global frameworks. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that's shaping the future of data centre design in Australia and beyond.

The Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and dynamic Senior Design/Project Manager to join the Design Management team in our Melbourne or Sydney office and to play a role in ensuring the successful delivery of some of the most exciting and high-profile projects within the region and internationally. This is a role has a stimulating level of exposure to the wider project teams and stakeholders with potential to develop your career and expand experience.

Under the direction of the Project Partner, the Senior Design Manager is typically responsible for the full running of multidisciplinary teams on large and/or complex projects which may include sub-consultants and will be presented as the project lead to the client teams. They could also function as lead consultant on turnkey portfolio programmes or professional services frameworks.

This role includes planning and implementing project delivery and controlling project financials. They will typically be very experienced in project methods and tools, able to guide delivery and clarify uncertain scope, lead on the management of process to facilitate design disciplines leads to achieve specified outcomes, provide advice to decision makers whilst building and maintaining strong relationships with different stakeholder groups.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall project delivery from initiation through design, procurement, construction, and handover.

• Quickly understand clients processes, needs and expectations and clearly communicate this to the team.

• Maintain a collaborative relationship with clients and stakeholders while ensuring that Cundall's commercial, contractual, and professional interests are protected at all times

• Be the recognized and trusted point of contact for clients on projects.

• Hold project kick-off meetings at every stage and ensure that the delivery team are well versed in the project deliverables and requirements.

• Develop and maintain project execution plans on projects, including development of overall master delivery program in coordination with the delivery team leads, to support the delivery of the project.

• Day to day decision making on project progress.

• Provide clear and concise instructions and direction to the delivery team and provide stable project control.

• Manage stakeholder relationships, including client, contractors, consultants, and authorities.

• Monitor project progress against cost, program, and quality benchmarks and report to Project Director.

• Chair progress meetings, prepare reports, and escalate risks/issues as required.

• Manage change management.

• Maintain clear and accurate records and reports.

• Identify and escalate internally any performance issues with the delivery teams before the client raises them.

• Act as an initial escalation point on the project when required.

• Work with a degree of autonomy leading large design teams, but with the ability to recognize when guidance is required.

• Knowledge of QA procedures and ensuring the QA procedures are being followed by all project teams.

• Ensure health, safety, and environmental compliance during project execution.

• Support lessons-learned and knowledge transfer for future projects.

• Actively participate in new growth initiatives internally and externally and to contribute to the development of internal systems and procedures.

The Skills

The candidate shall be educated to bachelor's degree level or higher in project management, engineering or architecture, or similar approved vocational qualification.

They will also be a member of APM, PMP, MCIOB, MRICS, CIBSE, Engineering Council, IET, or similar approved professional organisation.

We seek experience within a similar Project/Design Management consultancy role or within an appropriate design field. They will have some commercial awareness to administratively support the Partners/Associates with the preparation of bids, requests for proposals, sub-consultant appointments and their contract administration.

We know that to be the best at what we do we need a diverse workforce underpinned by an inclusive culture. Creating environments where everyone can find joy doing their best work is also great for everyone. That's why we positively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities, and encourage, support, and celebrate the diverse voices of our people.