Design Manager (Freelance)

Charcoalblue

4d • Remote

About The Position

Charcoalblue is seeking a Freelance Design Manager to support its Experience Design & Strategy (XDS) team, primarily focusing on projects in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with a key client location in Singapore. This role involves providing design management and project delivery services, acting as an embedded vendor within client teams. The Design Manager will translate client visions into actionable briefs, support project delivery, and produce documentation (user journeys, creative visioning, master planning, etc.) to illustrate design considerations. The role requires a multifaceted, innovative problem solver with broad knowledge of event spaces and/or guest experiences, strong communication skills, and the ability to work independently in a managed-services environment. The engagement is anticipated to be approximately 16 hours per week, with an initial term until the end of December 2026, and potential for extension. Initially, the focus will be on events, executive briefings, and collaboration spaces within the technology workplace sector.

Requirements

• Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in either the event management and operations field, or in the design and construction of spaces relating to the performing arts, events, executive briefing centers, experiential design, or hospitality & leisure.
• Ability to read construction drawings and specifications.
• Professional interest in construction projects.
• Skilled in the visual, written, and verbal communication of design issues.
• Capability to think outside the box and bring creative, non-standard, and innovative solutions to the table.
• A practical understanding of both RIBA and AIA design stages, and the typical level of information required at each stage.
• Adept at synthesizing complex information and high-level concepts into clear, concise, and visually compelling presentations for executive and cross-functional audiences.
• Proven vision, leadership, and strategic skills to prioritize evolving initiatives; ability to turn ideas and capabilities into effective initiatives that engage users.
• An understanding of construction terminology and building systems, and overall project sequence/timing.
• Ability and proven record of helping to steer decision making and processing.
• Ability to work in a collaborative and fast-paced environment with a high degree of self-motivation and initiative.
• Outstanding verbal and written communicator.
• Ability to easily manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Detail oriented with ability to think, plan, and execute on multiple projects in different phases simultaneously with little direct supervision.
• Informed design sensibility, with a curious and open approach to design.
• Able to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing business needs.
• Ability to build relationships with colleagues, clients, vendors, stakeholders, and management.
• Availability to participate in daily meetings during standard business hours in the GMT+8 time zone.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum three (3) years of relevant experience in design management or client representation relating to events or experiential spaces.
• Formal qualification/degree in architecture, interior design, venue design, or related field.
• Experience in experiential design, executive briefing programs, theatre, performing arts, or event space buildings either through direct experience or professional design work.
• An imaginative approach to problem-solving will be a significant advantage.
• A collaborative and personal approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise and design guidance for Events and Experiences spaces.
• Ensure the architectural design of Event, Collaboration, and Executive Briefing Venues, Activations, and Support Spaces are optimized for the overall guest and user experience.
• Develop client requirements documentation for new event and experience spaces and produce briefs for the architectural design team, including architectural requirements, operational considerations, and program constraints.
• Develop, document, analyze, and present user journey studies and wider strategic visioning studies.
• Deliver and maintain progress reports and presentations to key stakeholders and partners as required using written and drawn documentation to communicate stakeholder requirements, project aims, and design intent.
• Act as a key point of contact for client stakeholder teams, project managers, and the design teams to ensure accurate communication between all parties.
• Be a trusted, friendly, and flexible collaborator for all client and external partners while balancing diverse team priorities.
• Be actively involved in Design Team and other key project meetings, providing subject matter expert advice to guide the project with an understanding of schedule and cost considerations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree