Senior Design Manager in Birmingham

• Lead and manage the full design lifecycle-from creative concept through detailed design and production handover.
• Oversee multidisciplinary design teams (concept artists, CAD technicians, 3D modelers, engineers, scenic designers).
• Translate creative briefs into actionable design strategies, ensuring alignment with project scope, budgets, and timelines.
• Review and approve drawings, 3D models, material specifications, storyboards, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate closely with project managers, engineers, and fabrication teams to ensure design intent is technically feasible and production-ready.
• Manage client communication for all design-related matters, including presentations, revisions, and technical clarifications.
• Ensure compliance with safety guidelines, engineering constraints, and buildability requirements.
• Support procurement teams with technical spec sheets, material lists, and vendor coordination.
• Provide creative direction and mentorship to the design department.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the full design lifecycle-from creative concept through detailed design and production handover.
• Oversee multidisciplinary design teams (concept artists, CAD technicians, 3D modelers, engineers, scenic designers).
• Translate creative briefs into actionable design strategies, ensuring alignment with project scope, budgets, and timelines.
• Review and approve drawings, 3D models, material specifications, storyboards, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate closely with project managers, engineers, and fabrication teams to ensure design intent is technically feasible and production-ready.
• Manage client communication for all design-related matters, including presentations, revisions, and technical clarifications.
• Coordinate design schedules, resource allocation, design workflows, and version control.
• Ensure compliance with safety guidelines, engineering constraints, and buildability requirements.
• Support procurement teams with technical spec sheets, material lists, and vendor coordination.
• Provide creative direction and mentorship to the design department.
• Technical & Professional Requirements
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Design, Architecture, Engineering, Scenic Design, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in design management within themed entertainment, creative fabrication, attractions, events, or similar industries.
• Strong proficiency with design and visualization software: Auto CAD, Solid Works, Rhino, Sketch Up, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and relevant 3D rendering tools.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting engineering drawings and integrating mechanical, structural, and electrical requirements into design.
• Understanding of fabrication methods including carpentry, metalwork, scenic painting, props, animatronics, and interactive technologies.
• Exceptional ability to convert creative vision into practical and manufacturable design solutions.
• Strong leadership, team management, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under fast-paced timelines.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving ability.

Contract Type

Full-time FTC contract

Ideal start date

• 15 August 2026 (flexibility available for the right candidate)
• Salary Pay Range
• About Journey
• The Multidimensional Experience Agency

Journey is a global design and innovation agency shaping the future through multidimensional experiences (MDX) that connect people, brands, and culture.

Our layered MDX approach crafts story-driven, sensory-rich engagement across physical, immersive, digital, and virtual spaces-fuelled by creative and technological innovation.

Born from a legacy of pioneering studios, Journey blends strategic thinking with deep creative expertise to deliver solutions across industries.

Journey's MDX approach fuels growth and forges lasting value for audiences and partners, by creating cultural connections that resonate with impact.

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