Design Manager

Position:Design Manager
Department:Project Management Unit (PMU)
Reports To:Project Director
Position Overview
Meraki Land is seeking an experienced and proactive Design Manager to join the Project Management Unit (PMU), reporting directly to the Project Director.
This is an Owner-side leadership role responsible for managing and coordinating the overall design process from Master Planning through Construction Completion for hospitality, mixed-use, residential, and other development projects.
The Design Manager acts as the Owner's Representative throughout the design process, leading consultants, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and driving timely design decisions that support the Company's project and commercial objectives.
The Design Manager is responsible for ensuring consultants deliver coordinated, practical, commercially viable, and technically robust design solutions while maintaining alignment with the approved Project Brief, Design Programme, Project Master Programme, budget, statutory requirements, and operational objectives.
The successful candidate should be capable of thinking and acting from an Owner's perspective, proactively leading consultants, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and driving practical, commercially sound project outcomes while working closely with the Project Manager to maintain the Project Master Programme.
Working closely with the Project Director, Commercial Manager, Project Manager, MEP Manager, Structural Manager, consultants, contractors, hotel operators, and government authorities, the Design Manager plays a key role in achieving successful project delivery.
Key Responsibilities
1. Design Leadership
• Lead and manage the overall design delivery process from Master Planning through Construction Completion.
• Represent the Owner throughout the design process and ensure consultants deliver in accordance with the Company's objectives.
• Ensure design solutions meet the approved Project Brief, Design Programme, Project Master Programme, budget, statutory requirements, brand standards, and operational requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the Project Manager and other PMU members to maintain the Project Master Programme and achieve key project delivery milestones.
• Lead design reviews and facilitate timely decision-making to support project milestones.
• Identify design risks early and implement practical mitigation strategies.
• Promote a collaborative, proactive, and solution-oriented working environment across all project stakeholders.
2. Consultant Management & Design Coordination
• Manage and coordinate the Lead Design Consultant, Architect, Interior Designer, Landscape Architect, Local Architect, and other specialist consultants throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination across Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape, Structural, MEP, Infrastructure, and other specialist disciplines.
• Coordinate closely with the Project Manager, Commercial Manager, MEP Manager, Structural Manager, and other PMU members to ensure fully integrated project delivery.
• Monitor consultant performance against contractual obligations, the Design Programme, the Project Master Programme, quality standards, and agreed deliverables.
• Review consultant submissions and provide recommendations to the Project Director for approval.
• Administer consultancy contracts, including deliverables, payment recommendations, variations, and scope changes.
• Challenge consultants where appropriate and drive practical, coordinated, and commercially sound design solutions that protect the Company's interests and maximise project value.
3. Project Programme, Quality & Value Management
• Develop, manage, monitor, and regularly update the Design Programme in alignment with the Project Master Programme.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to ensure the Design Programme supports the Project Master Programme and all key project milestones.
• Monitor consultant progress against the Design Programme, identify programme risks, and proactively recommend mitigation and recovery strategies to protect the Project Master Programme.
• Ensure consultant deliverables are completed in accordance with the approved Design Programme and Project Master Programme.
• Lead value engineering initiatives in collaboration with the Commercial Manager and project team while maintaining project quality and design intent.
• Promote practical, buildable, innovative, and cost-effective design solutions that maximise long-term project value.
• Drive continuous improvement throughout the design process.
4. Stakeholder & Statutory Coordination
• Coordinate with consultants, contractors, hotel operators, government authorities, and internal stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead statutory design coordination with the Local Architect, submission consultants, and relevant authorities.
• Ensure design documentation supports statutory approval requirements and project submission milestones.
• Coordinate responses to authority review comments and facilitate timely statutory approvals.
• Represent Meraki Land in consultant meetings, design workshops, hotel operator reviews, and authority meetings.
• Prepare design reports, recommendations, and management updates for the Project Director and senior management.
5. Construction Support
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design support during procurement and construction.
• Work closely with the Project Manager, MEP Manager, Structural Manager, consultants, and contractors to resolve technical and design coordination issues.
• Review significant design changes during construction and provide recommendations to the Project Director.
• Ensure the approved design intent is maintained throughout project execution.