Sekisui House is one of Australia's leading residential construction and home building companies, backed by a globally recognised Japanese parent organisation renowned for quality and innovation. We are looking for an experienced Design Manager to lead our design and product teams across NSW.
This is a senior leadership role with real influence. You will manage the full design production workflow — from product development through to pre-construction detailing — while working closely with a diverse group of internal stakeholders including Japanese executive leadership. The environment is collaborative but also demanding, and we need someone who knows how to bring people along with them.
What You'll Be Doing
* Lead and develop a team including a Building Designer, Drafting Manager, and Structural Design Manager
* Own the end-to-end design production workflow across NSW home building projects
* Drive product development outcomes, contributing to committees and steering groups
* Ensure all pre-site design and detailing is completed on time to support construction and manufacturing schedules
* Manage statutory approvals, code compliance, and keep the business current with legislative changes
* Build and maintain a specialist supplier and consultant base aligned with SHAWOOD's product and quality standards
* Develop and maintain reporting systems for workflow tracking and performance
* Work cross-functionally with Pre-Construction, Construction, Development, and Strategy teams
About You
You are a confident design leader with a background in residential construction or development. You know your way around structural design, drafting, and architectural design — and you have managed teams in these areas. But just as important is how you work with people.
This role sits at the intersection of technical delivery and stakeholder management. You will be working with senior Japanese executives who have high standards and their own way of doing things. You will need to be able to influence without friction, build trust across cultural boundaries, and hold your ground professionally when needed. If you have worked in a cross-cultural or Japanese business environment before, that is a real advantage.
Experience & Qualifications
* Tertiary qualifications in architecture, building design, construction management, or a related discipline
* Proven track record in residential construction or development — volume building experience preferred
* Hands‐on experience across structural design, drafting, and general design management
* Strong people leadership skills — you have managed design teams and you know how to get the best out of them
* Demonstrated ability to influence and manage senior stakeholders in complex or matrixed environments
* Experience working with or within Japanese-owned or cross-cultural organisations is highly regarded
* Financial acumen — comfortable managing workflow budgets and forecasts
* Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Why Join Us
* Competitive base salary of $200,000
* Work on premium residential projects under the SHAWOOD brand — a product you can be proud of
* Senior role with genuine scope to shape how design is delivered across two states
* Be part of a business that blends Australian residential expertise with Japanese precision and long‐term thinking
* Collaborative team environment with direct access to executive leadership
If this sounds like the right next step for you, we'd love to hear from you.
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