Design Manager (PMC) - Waterfront Development & Heritage

About the role

Parsons is seeking a highly experienced Design Manager to lead the design and delivery of a major waterfront development and heritage project. The role oversees the design process from concept through detailed design, ensuring strong integration between heritage assets, waterfront environments, architecture, landscape, infrastructure, public realm and modern development requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Lead overall design management and coordination from concept design through detailed design.
• Manage multidisciplinary design consultants, including architects, urban designers, landscape architects, heritage and conservation specialists, structural and civil engineers, marine specialists and building services consultants.
• Oversee planning, review, coordination and approval of design deliverables, ensuring compliance with design guidelines, heritage requirements, codes and authority requirements.
• Ensure integration of heritage buildings, adaptive reuse, waterfront interfaces, public realm, landscape, pedestrian environments, infrastructure, utilities and mixed-use components.
• Monitor design solutions that preserve the historic character, cultural significance and authenticity of heritage assets while supporting contemporary uses and visitor experiences.
• Act as the primary design interface between the client, developers, operators, consultants, contractors, heritage specialists, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Establish and manage design schedules, design management plans, design review processes, technical workshops, interface registers and deliverable tracking systems.
• Lead design reviews, value engineering, constructability reviews, design optimization, risk mitigation and sustainability initiatives.
• Monitor design progress, identify design and interface risks and coordinate design and procurement.
• Maintain design quality assurance, technical governance, design reporting and change-control processes.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Urban Design, Design Management or a related discipline; Master's degree or relevant professional qualification preferred.
• Minimum 15-20 years of experience in design management, design coordination and delivery of major capital development projects.
• Demonstrated experience on large-scale waterfront, heritage, cultural, mixed-use, urban regeneration or destination development projects.
• Strong experience with heritage conservation, restoration, refurbishment or adaptive reuse of historic buildings.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams, consultants and technical stakeholders.
• Proven experience managing design development through concept, schematic, detailed design, tender documentation, construction and handover.
• Experience in a PMC, multidisciplinary consultancy, developer or client-side environment on major development programs.

Required skills

• Waterfront master planning, urban design, architecture, landscape design, public realm, infrastructure and marine/waterfront interfaces.
• Building regulations, heritage and conservation requirements, authority approval processes, accessibility requirements and international design standards.
• BIM, digital engineering, multidisciplinary design coordination platforms, clash/interface management and integrated project delivery.
• Leadership, stakeholder management, presentation and workshop facilitation skills.