Senior Design Manager

We are recruiting for a Portfolio Senior Design Manager to oversee the design delivery of multiple projects, ensuring consistency, quality, and strategic alignment across a diverse portfolio. Adept at leading consultant teams, managing design risk, and balancing programme, cost, and technical requirements to achieve successful project outcomes.

This role focuses on driving standards, best practices, and alignment across projects while supporting Design Managers in achieving optimal design outcomes. Deliver Design Management on projects from pre-bid to handover with a high degree of independence, working with the senior portfolio team and senior project teams.

This Senior Design Manager is responsible for delivering design management on projects from pre-bid to handover with a high degree of independence, working with the senior project team.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver Design Management on projects with a high degree of independence using experience and judgement

• Oversee the design performance of multiple projects, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and client requirements.

• Monitor design programme, resource allocation, and delivery milestones across the portfolio.

• Integrate and work alongside senior project team; e.g. Project Director, Commercial Director, Construction Director etc.

• Represent the business at a senior level with clients, consultants and supply chain partners

• Manage high value complex projects in a variety of different sectors, client types and procurement contexts

• Bid for new work collaboratively with project teams, quickly establish external relationships and secure work through reports and presentations

• Manage consultant design through pre-construction period with the integration of specialist designers

• Manage consultant relationships at portfolio level.

• Manage process of design review and approval through documentation, documents management systems and inspections

• Manage third party interfaces such as Planning and Building Control (RBCA)

• Report to the Head of Design Management: Private/Public at regular intervals and key milestones on delivery of projects

• Manage design through internal project governance e.g.:

• Bid and conversion commitment reviews

• Monthly Project in Conversion / Project in Delivery Reviews

• Internal and external audits

Essential credentials

• Appropriate CSCS card for the role

• Professional Construction Qualifications relevant to the role (BSc or MSc in construction project management, building studies or architecture)

Essential Skills

• Ability to Plan, Manage and Monitor Design in line with the duties of the Building Act Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD)

• Strong written and verbal communication skills both technical and non-technical to client, supply chain, peers and stakeholders

• Able to use robust judgement in weighing up multiple, complex, sources of information and clearly communicate direction

• Able to direct and negotiate with consultants at a senior level e.g. business owners

• Able to present technical and procedural material to audiences

• Competent IT skills and experience in relevant types of programmes; Microsoft Office, PDF Editing, Presentation software e.g. Adobe InDesign, BIM Model software e.g. Autodesk Construction Cloud.

Essential Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of the design and construction process

• Knowledge of relevant legislation, construction laws, the regulatory framework, industry standards and technical guides

• Thorough knowledge of Construction Design Management 2015 Regulations and the roles of CDM Principal Designer and CDM Principal Contractor

• Through knowledge of the Building Safety Act and roles of BR Principal Designer and BR Principal Contractor

• Detailed knowledge of the RIBA Work Stages and their deliverables

• Thorough knowledge of design and construction technical details

• Detailed knowledge of standard forms of construction contracts e.g. JCT Design and Build, Construction Management, Management Contracting and NEC

• Detailed understanding of Professional Services Agreements

• Thorough knowledge of Sustainability including the delivery of relevant accreditations

• Thorough knowledge of Digital project integration delivery including, digital design (BIM), common data environments and project delivery programmes.

• Robust commercial awareness including contract conditions, deliverables, liability and responsibility

• Thorough understanding of construction methodologies and their influencing factors, e.g. safety, fabrication, assembly, logistics, availability.

• Essential Experience

• Experience managing consultants to ensure design and quality assurance deliverables are achieved and recorded.

• Experience of dealing with clients, contractors and construction activities.

• Previous experience as a design manager/architect on a significant new build project.

• Trained in all safety matters

• Experience in the selection and procurement of designers on a competitive basis.

• Experience in the creation and use of project control mechanisms.

• Previous experience of leading a design team

• Experience of negotiating Novated Appointments with Deeds of Variation

Essential Behaviours

• Must lead in the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) vision and prioritise safety in every aspect of the role

• Ability to initiate, establish and maintain relationships with clients, consultants, supply chain and external partners

• Flexibility and openness of approach and willingness to work as a team player.

• Collaboration with all levels of design managers across the business to share best practices, lessons learnt and offer cross project support

• Uphold and demonstrate the company values

Please note that due to the nature of this role, national security vetting procedures apply, and a full UK security check will be carried out for the successful candidate. Further details about national security vetting can be found here: United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We will provide:

• Car allowance

• Flexible and hybrid work options

• Up to 10% employer pension contribution

• Private medical health benefit

• Enhanced parental leave

• Life assurance

• 25 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell additional days

• 3 days wellbeing leave in addition to annual leave

• Health and wellbeing support and initiatives

• 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme including direct access to Talking Therapies and Coaching services

• Discounted gym membership to over 2,500 gym’s nation wide