Design Management (Project Development Division)

POSITION PURPOSE

The Design Manager (DM) is responsible for managing the architectural design process on behalf of the Development Management company and acting as the supporting architectural and design interface with the appointed architectural firm and other design consultants.

The DM does not undertake the primary architectural design production. Instead, the role is responsible for establishing the design brief and requirements, providing design direction, reviewing and challenging consultant proposals, assist the Project Director in coordinating multidisciplinary design inputs, managing design development, and ensuring that the design delivered by the appointed consultants meets the Company & Client’s objectives.

The role ensures that the project design achieves the required balance between design quality, functionality, market positioning, development value, cost, timeline, statutory requirements, constructability and long-term operational & maintenance considerations.

The DM will work closely with the Company’s Project Management, Marketing & Sales, to ensure that design decisions support the overall project objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A.     Design Brief & Design Strategy

- Establish and maintain the architectural design brief in accordance with the approved development strategy.

- Translate the Company & Client’s vision, project objectives, target market and commercial requirements into clear design requirements for the appointed architectural firm.

- Establish project-specific design principles, quality standards and design parameters.

- Provide architectural input into feasibility studies, development options, site planning, massing, GFA efficiency, unit planning and project positioning.

- Review the design strategy and ensure that it remains aligned with the approved development objectives throughout the project.

- Identify design opportunities that can enhance project value, functionality, marketability and user experience.

- Identify design risks and issues that may affect project cost, timeline, approvals or development potential.

B.     Management of Appointed Architectural Firm

- Act as the primary point of contact between the company and the appointed architectural firm.

- Manage the architectural firm’s performance against its appointment, scope of services, programme and agreed deliverables.

- Establish clear design deliverables, submission requirements, review procedures and approval milestones.

- Brief the architectural firm on the Company & Client’s requirements and ensure that instructions are clearly communicated.

- Conduct critical review of the architectural firm’s design proposals with Project Director/Manager and provide consolidated feedback to Client/Architectural firm.

- Challenge design proposals where they do not adequately address the project brief, commercial objectives, technical requirements or quality expectations.

- Monitor the architectural firm’s progress and identify potential delays or deficiencies in design delivery and notify Project Director/Manager.

- Ensure that the architectural firm responds appropriately to comments and incorporates agreed revisions.

- Maintain a professional and constructive relationship with the architectural firm while ensuring that the Developer’s interests are properly represented.

C.    Architectural Design Review

- Review and assess architectural design submissions at all stages, including:

  - Concept Design

  - Schematic Design

  - Developed Design

  - Detailed Design

  - Construction Stage, to review any proposed changes proposed by construction team and ensure continued compliance to approved design intent

- Review architectural plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, specifications, presentations, 3D models and visualisations.

- Review the design against the approved brief, development strategy and project requirements.

- Assess:

  - Architectural quality

  - Functionality

  - Planning efficiency

  - Space efficiency

  - User experience

  - Aesthetics

  - Buildability

  - Materiality

  - Durability

  - Maintainability

  - Operational requirements

- Identify gaps, inconsistencies, coordination issues and areas requiring further development.

- Provide clear, concise and actionable design review comments.

- Ensure that comments are properly incorporated into subsequent design submissions.

D.    Multidisciplinary Design Coordination

- Assist Project Director/Manager to review the architectural design with other appointed consultants and stakeholders.

- Assist Project Director/Manager in multidisciplinary design coordination meetings where appropriate.

- Advise Project Director/Manager to ensure that architectural decisions consider engineering, construction, operational and maintenance requirements.

- Assist Project Manager to ensure that design development supports the overall project delivery strategy.

E.     Design Timeline & Deliverables

- Coordinate with Project Manager to develop and monitor the design timeline in coordination with the overall project key milestones.

- Establish design milestones, submission dates, review periods and approval processes.

- Monitor the appointed architectural firm’s performance against the agreed timeline.

- Track outstanding design issues and actions.

- Maintain a design deliverables register and design action tracker.

- Identify potential delays and recommend corrective actions.

- Ensure design information is sufficiently developed and coordinated by appointed architectural firm before issuance of use.

F.      Design Quality & Developer’s Design Intent

- Act as the custodian of the Company & Client’s design intent throughout the project.

- Establish appropriate design quality benchmarks.

- Ensure that design quality is maintained as the project progresses from concept through construction.

- Review key architectural elements including:

  - Building form and massing

  - Façade

  - Entrance and arrival experience

  - Public areas

  - Typical floors

  - Residential units / commercial spaces

  - Amenities

  - Landscape interfaces

  - Materials and finishes

  - Key architectural details

- Review mock-ups, material samples and sample boards where required.

- Ensure that cost optimisation does not unnecessarily compromise the approved design intent or project quality.

G.    Cost & Value Management

- Work closely with the Project Manager to monitor the cost implications of design decisions.

- Assist the Project Manager to review design proposals against the approved development budget.

- Identify opportunities for design optimisation and value enhancement.

- Participate in value-engineering exercises.

- Review alternative materials, systems and design solutions.

- Assess proposed design changes in terms of:

  - Capital cost

  - Operational cost

  - Quality

  - Durability

  - Programme

  - Market positioning

  - Long-term asset value

- Ensure that value engineering is undertaken systematically and does not compromise critical aspects of the project’s design vision.

H.    Planning, Authority & Statutory Approvals

- Advise Project Management teams regarding planning and approval risks wherever applicable.

- Support Project Director/Manager and provide architectural input into discussions with authorities where required.

I.        Construction & Design Implementation

During construction, the DM shall act as the Developer’s architectural representative and:

- Monitor the implementation of the approved design intent.

- Assist Project Director/Manager to review architectural shop drawings, material submissions, samples and mock-ups.

J.       Design Change Management

- Establish and maintain a formal design change management process.

- Review requests for design changes and assess their impact on:

  - Design intent

  - Development brief

  - Cost

  - Programme

  - Planning approvals

  - Construction

  - Operations

  - Customer experience

- Maintain a design change register.

- Ensure that design changes are appropriately reviewed, documented and approved before implementation.

- Prevent uncontrolled design changes and scope changes.

K.     Internal Stakeholder Coordination

Work closely with Company’s Marketing & Sales department on:

- Product positioning

- Customer requirements

- Brand requirements

DESIGN REVIEW & APPROVAL PROCESS

The DM shall establish a structured design review process between the Company & Client and the appointed architectural firm.

KEY DELIVERABLES

The DM is responsible for reviewing:

- Project architectural brief

- Design strategy

- Design programme

- Design deliverables schedule

- Consultant coordination

- Concept design

- Schematic design

- Developed design

- Detailed design

- Design review reports

- Design comment registers

- Design decision register

- Design change register

- Value-engineering proposals

- Material and finish reviews

- Mock-up reviews

- Architectural quality reviews

- Construction design support

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Design

- Design complies with the approved development brief.

- Architectural quality and design intent are maintained.

- Design decisions are made in a timely and structured manner.

- Design issues are identified and resolved before impacting construction.

Consultant Management

- Appointed architectural firm performs in accordance with its scope and timeline.

- Consultant submissions are reviewed efficiently.

- Design comments are clearly communicated and properly closed out.

- Effective coordination is maintained between all design disciplines.

Cost

- Design development remains aligned with the approved budget.

- Effective value-engineering opportunities are identified.

- Design changes and their cost implications are properly controlled.

Timeline

- Design milestones are achieved.

- Design information is available in accordance with procurement and construction requirements.

- Design-related delays are minimised.

Quality

- Architectural quality meets the Developer’s required standards.

- Construction reflects the approved design intent.

- Design errors, omissions and coordination issues are minimised.

Education

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture from a recognised university.

- Professional architectural registration is preferred.

Experience

- Minimum 2–5 years in a design management, project architect, client representative or equivalent role.

- Demonstrated experience managing appointed architectural firms and multidisciplinary consultants.

- Experience working on projects from concept through construction.

- Experience in residential, hospitality, commercial, mixed-use or master-planned developments is preferred.

- Experience working for a property developer is highly advantageous.

- Fresh graduates can be considered

 PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

The candidate should have:

- Strong architectural design judgement.

- Strong understanding of architectural design development.

- Excellent ability to review and critique architectural proposals.

- Strong knowledge of architectural detailing and construction.

- Good understanding of building regulations and authority processes.

- Strong consultant management capability.

- Strong multidisciplinary coordination skills.

- Good understanding of cost and value engineering.

- Good understanding of construction and buildability.

- Ability to review architectural drawings and technical documentation.

- Strong presentation and communication skills.

- Proficiency in relevant architectural software and BIM processes.

PERSONAL COMPETENCIES

- Strong architectural sensibility.

- Commercially aware.

- Client-focused.

- Analytical and detail-oriented.

- Strong communicator.

- Confident in providing design direction and constructive criticism.

- Diplomatic but able to challenge consultants when necessary.

- Strong problem-solving ability.

- Proactive and organised.

- Strong sense of ownership and accountability.

- Able to manage competing priorities.

- Able to communicate effectively with both senior management and technical consultants.

ROLE DEFINITION

The DM is not the replacement for the appointed architectural firm and is not primarily responsible for producing architectural design documentation.

The appointed architectural firm remains responsible for its contracted architectural design services, professional design responsibilities and technical deliverables.

The DM represents the Company & Client’s interests and design objectives, providing the bridge between the Company & Client and the appointed architectural firm.

The DM’s primary responsibility is to ensure that:

The right design is developed, properly coordinated, commercially viable, appropriately documented, approved by the Company & Client, and ultimately delivered in accordance with the Company & Client’s vision and project objectives.