Design Manager - Sports Adventure

Job Description Overview The Design Manager Sports is responsible for leading and managing the design of sports and leisure facilities across projects, ensuring delivery of high-quality, compliant, and technically coordinated solutions. This role combines design management expertise with specialized knowledge of sports venues (stadiums, training facilities, community sports complexes) within a Project Management Consultancy (PMC) environment. The role focuses on design governance, coordination, and technical assurance, acting as the client s representative to ensure that sports facility designs meet international standards, operational requirements, and legacy objectives.

Your role

• Lead and manage design activities for sports facilities from concept through detailed design and construction stages

• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams (architecture, structure, MEP, sports specialists, venue planners, and consultants)

• Review and validate design deliverables to ensure compliance with project requirements, international standards, and best practices

• Establish and monitor the design programme aligned with overall project milestones

• Lead design reviews, workshops, and coordination meetings

• Provide expert input on sports facility planning and design

• Ensure compliance with international sports standards (e.g., FIFA, IOC, World Athletics, etc.)

• Review field/court layouts, spectator sightlines, circulation, and operational functionality

• Ensure integration of athlete facilities, media zones, VIP areas, and back-of-house operations

• Validate materials, surfaces, lighting, acoustics, and equipment specifications

• Promote sustainable and legacy-driven sports design solutions

• Act as the key interface between client, operators, sports consultants, and design teams

• Coordinate with governing bodies and authorities to secure approvals and certifications

• Facilitate stakeholder alignment on operational and functional requirements

• Participate in client presentations and technical decision-making forums

• Monitor design progress against budget and schedule

• Assess impact of design changes on project cost, programme, and functionality

• Support value engineering initiatives specific to sports infrastructure

• Identify and mitigate risks related to design coordination, compliance, and constructability

• Provide technical design support during construction, including review of shop drawings and RFIs

• Ensure the design intent for sports facilities is maintained on site

• Coordinate with site supervision teams and contractors for issue resolution

• Support testing, commissioning, and handover of sports facilities

• Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field

• Minimum 12 - 15+ years of experience, including:

• Sports facility design and/or design management

• Experience in stadiums, major events, or large-scale sports developments

• Previous experience in PMC, consultancy, or complex multidisciplinary projects

• Strong knowledge of international sports design standards and venue requirements

• Strong leadership and multidisciplinary coordination skills

• Deep understanding of sports facility planning and operations