Design Manager in Suffolk

Design Manager - Construction - Tier 1 Main Contractor - Education Projects

Location: Suffolk

Sector: Construction / Education

Salary: £75k - £80k basic + comprehensive benefits package

We are working with a leading UK construction and development organisation to recruit an experienced Design Manager to join its London-based construction team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive and technically minded Design Manager to play a key role in delivering high-quality, sustainable construction projects.

You will be responsible for managing the design process across both pre-construction and project delivery, ensuring that design packages are technically compliant, commercially efficient, coordinated and fully aligned with project requirements.

As Design Manager, you will:

Manage the design process from pre-construction through to project delivery, ensuring technically compliant, cost-effective and coordinated design solutions.
Lead and manage digital construction and sustainability requirements across projects.
Coordinate with subcontractors, consultants and wider design teams to create a collaborative environment and deliver high-quality design information.
Manage the production, review, release and approval of technical drawings and information.
Chair client engagement meetings, design workshops and coordination sessions.
Coordinate complex design packages and review technical details to identify opportunities to add value and improve buildability.
Demonstrate a strong level of technical understanding across architecture, structural engineering and MEP services.
Support the selection and appointment of appropriate subcontractors, including the development and management of contractor design portions and working drawings.
Develop and manage the design programme in collaboration with project stakeholders, ensuring alignment with project information and delivery requirements.
Produce regular internal and external progress reports.
Review designs for technical completeness, coordination and buildability.
Develop consultant scopes of service and design responsibility matrices.
Work with the wider project team to identify and develop value engineering opportunities.
Lead and manage the design programme, ensuring key milestones and deliverables are achieved.
Drive continuous improvement through the effective use of digital construction tools and processes.We are looking for an experienced Design Manager who can demonstrate:

Proven experience in a Design Management role within the construction industry.
Experience working on education, public sector or similarly complex projects would be advantageous.
A collaborative, proactive and solutions-focused approach.
The ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, while having the confidence to make informed decisions when required.
A strong desire to learn, improve processes and share knowledge and experience.
A good understanding of both design and construction processes and the interfaces between them.
Experience with BIM processes and requirements, ideally including Revit and AutoCAD.
A genuine interest in driving improvements through digital construction and technology.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, from day-to-day collaboration through to formal reporting.
Experience reviewing designs for technical completeness and buildability.
Experience developing consultant scopes of service and design responsibility matrices.
The ability to identify and develop value engineering proposals alongside the wider project team.
Experience developing and managing design programmes.What's In It For You?

In addition to a competitive salary, the successful candidate will benefit from a comprehensive package that may include:

- Competitive salary

- Company car or car allowance

- 8% matched pension contributions

- Private healthcare

- Life assurance

- 26 days' annual leave

- 2 wellbeing days

- 1 volunteering day

- A wide range of family-friendly policies

- Flexible benefits package

- Personal and professional development opportunities

Interested?

If you're an experienced Design Manager looking for your next opportunity with a leading construction organisation, I'd love to hear from you. Apply now or feel free to message me via LinkedIn/Email (url removed) for a confidential chat