Design Manager

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

Location: London

Sector: Construction / Education

Salary: £80k-£89k 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:

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

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