Design Manager

Position OverviewWe are seeking an experienced, creative, and highly organised Design Manager to lead and coordinate the organisation’s design activities, projects, standards, and creative output. The Design Manager will work closely with internal teams, clients, stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners to ensure design projects are delivered to a high standard, within agreed timelines, budgets, and quality requirements.The ideal candidate will combine strong creative and technical knowledge with leadership, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills. The role will be responsible for managing design teams, reviewing concepts and deliverables, coordinating project requirements, maintaining design standards, and ensuring that creative and technical solutions align with business objectives.Key ResponsibilitiesLead, manage, and coordinate design activities across multiple projects, departments, or business functions.Develop design strategies, processes, standards, and workflows aligned with company objectives, project requirements, and brand guidelines.Manage and allocate design resources according to project priorities, deadlines, budgets, and business requirements.Lead, mentor, coach, and develop designers and creative team members to maintain high standards of quality and productivity.Review design concepts, drawings, layouts, specifications, prototypes, presentations, and final deliverables to ensure accuracy, consistency, functionality, and quality.Translate business, client, marketing, product, architectural, engineering, or project requirements into clear and practical design briefs where applicable.Work closely with project managers, engineers, architects, product teams, marketing teams, sales teams, contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders throughout the design process.Coordinate design development from initial concepts and research through detailed design, revisions, approval, production, implementation, and final delivery.Ensure all design work meets project specifications, technical requirements, quality standards, applicable regulations, and company policies.Establish clear project schedules, milestones, deliverables, review stages, and approval processes for design projects.Monitor project progress and identify potential delays, resource constraints, design conflicts, scope changes, and other risks.Coordinate design reviews and approval meetings with clients, management, internal teams, and other relevant stakeholders.Manage feedback and revisions while ensuring design changes are properly documented, communicated, and incorporated.Ensure consistency across design outputs, brand materials, product designs, digital assets, physical environments, or technical documentation depending on business requirements.Develop and maintain design guidelines, templates, standards, specifications, libraries, and documentation.Collaborate with marketing and branding teams to ensure visual identity, messaging, layouts, and creative assets are aligned with established brand standards.Work with technical teams to assess the feasibility, functionality, manufacturability, usability, or implementation requirements of proposed designs.Identify design risks, technical issues, inconsistencies, and potential production or implementation challenges before final approval.Coordinate with external design agencies, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, printers, suppliers, and other service providers when required.Review external design proposals, technical submissions, samples, prototypes, and deliverables to ensure they meet agreed requirements.Assist with design budgets, quotations, resource planning, procurement requirements, and cost-control initiatives.Evaluate alternative materials, technologies, design approaches, and production methods where applicable to improve quality, functionality, efficiency, or cost effectiveness.Ensure appropriate version control and maintain accurate records of drawings, files, specifications, approvals, revisions, and project documentation.Support the development of prototypes, mock-ups, samples, visual presentations, technical drawings, or other design outputs as required.Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, design tools, materials, techniques, and market developments to identify opportunities for innovation.Introduce and improve design processes, workflows, tools, and quality-control procedures to increase efficiency and consistency.Ensure projects are delivered according to agreed scope, quality standards, timelines, and budget requirements.Prepare regular project updates, design reports, presentations, progress summaries, and recommendations for senior management.Manage design-related issues and coordinate corrective actions when deliverables do not meet required standards.Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, training, and professional development of design team members.Promote a collaborative, innovative, and quality-focused design culture across the organisation.Ensure confidential project information, intellectual property, customer information, and design files are properly protected.Participate in strategic planning, new product development, business initiatives, and other projects requiring design leadership and expertise.RequirementsBachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Product Design, or a related discipline depending on the industry.Proven experience in design management, design leadership, project design, creative management, or a related role.Strong portfolio demonstrating design quality, creative thinking, technical capability, and successful project delivery.Previous experience managing or mentoring designers and coordinating multidisciplinary teams is preferred.Strong understanding of design principles, development processes, production requirements, quality control, and project workflows.Excellent knowledge of relevant design software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Revit, SketchUp, Figma, or other industry-specific tools.Strong project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain design concepts and technical information clearly.Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively with clients, senior management, technical teams, suppliers, and external partners.Strong creative thinking combined with practical problem-solving and commercial awareness.Excellent attention to detail and ability to identify design inconsistencies, technical issues, and quality concerns.Ability to manage feedback, revisions, changing priorities, and tight deadlines while maintaining quality.Understanding of budgeting, resource planning, procurement, and cost-control principles.Strong knowledge of relevant industry standards, regulations, materials, production methods, or technical requirements is advantageous.Proactive, organised, adaptable, and capable of working independently as well as within a multidisciplinary team.Relevant professional certifications, industry memberships, or specialist design qualifications are an advantage.