but I have met many great DM with left of field experiences and qualifications as well".
WHAT IS A DESIGN MANAGER
It is a specialized and suitably qualified person who has the experience to manage and procure the design phase of the building process and also could be used to manage the ongoing construction needs of the design. They can work as a consultant or an employee for clients or builders.
Design Managers must have a design flare however not necessarily a design qualification, they need to be able to manage the process. So traditionally most design managers have an architectural, engineering or a construction management background however someone who is an expert in a specialist building or service can be a perfectly good design manager. I have met former nurses who have been wonderful design manager for aged care facilities. I have seen this in resorts, restaurant chains, warehouse chains, etc. Shopping centres may have procurement officers that know their product so well – they are the logical choice to drive the process.
A formal qualification does help but not a rite of passage anymore.
DESIGN MANAGERS CORE SKILL SET
- A solid understanding of different client procurement routes.
- A demonstratable portfolio of commercial projects or equivalent experience
- Ability to organise, plan, programme and manage workloads.
- Understanding of building regulations
- Ability to read technical drawings and foresee design and construction complications and cost savings
- Ability to identify cost savings through improving buildability and procurement
- Ability to translate technical requirement into policies and procedures
- Strong procurement strategy implementation
- High standard and well received internal and external design outcomes
- Experience working with corporate business.
The new age design manager role can sometimes be the client’s project manager. He or she is there not to replace the architect but to work with all the design team to procure and mitigate the design in the most cost-efficient and effective long term solution for the life span of a building. If the DM is working for the client their role is to plug any holes in the documentation and possible check the builder’s design solution.
If the DM works for the builder – Their role is to find holes in the documents to extract opportunities and possible variations to original tender requests. Little bit engineer, little bit architect, little bit estimator and a little be builder makes up the DNA of the modern day role. Depending on who the DM works for you are still trying to save your client money. I good Design Manager is worth their weight in gold. Most larger builders generally in Tier 2 and Tier 1 Builders would normally employ a full-time design manager in their bid team.
These professionals are now the people that I can most compare the construction Architects of times past.
DESIGN MANAGERS RESPONSIBILITIES
The client-side Design Managers responsibility:
- Initial and ongoing procurement strategies
- Review designs, recommend improvements and provide value-adding solutions
- Involvement in appointing a builder;
- Contract negotiations
- On-going design enhancement and improvement
- Manage design consultancies and achieve the best outcomes for the project
The Builders Design Managers responsibility:
- Manage the design process during the pre-construction and as required, the construction phase.
- Fully investigate value engineering and value creation opportunities.
- Interrogation of enquiry documents, in the form of an Employer’s Requirements.
- Production of a Contractor’s Proposal document in liaison with other internal departments.
- Manage our design process via external consultants.
- Drive innovative and cost-effective solutions into the design.
- Progress design issues within a strict timescale & ensure designers meet information delivery dates.
- Review subcontractor design proposals.
- Verify & control the status of consultants and subcontractors drawings and specifications & maintain registers.
- Ensure the consultant scope of services, responsibilities and fees are agreed.
- Facilitate the completion of a project risk register.
- Attend tender launch /tender adjudication and launch meetings as required..
TO ESTIMATORS WORKING WITH
DESIGN MANAGERS
Estimator if you are trying to cut costs, the easiest way is often to cut scope.
Design Managers are mainly focused on maintaining the aesthetic of the building and might get a little irate if you come in an start cutting corners.
The best way when you are trying to save money is to isolate the most important aspect of the design. Protecting these important aspects is paramount to the DM clients client. Now if the DM feels safe that you aren’t going to rape the design they will work with you. If those important elements are protected then everything else is on the table. Working on a budget is far easier if the estimator and design manager play nice.
The final step in the puzzle is procurement – if the procurement team is also on board and asking questions of the budget, If you save money on the no crucial items then you can spend money on the really important character building elements of the project.
