Job Description:

Design Manager – Regional D&B Construction Contractor

• c£70k - £80k (Dependent on Experience)
• 5k Car Allowance
• Additional Benefits

The Company

My client is an East Midlands based independent construction contractor with longstanding customer relationships stretching back over two decades. These projects consist of New Builds and Refurbishments, primarily in the residential and commercial sectors, carried out on a Design & Build basis.

The Design Manager Role

They are extremely busy going into 2027 and require a Design Manager / Technical Lead to provide design and technical support  for the delivery of a wide variety of projects, in the multi-occupancy residential sector (Care Homes, Student Accommodation, Multi-Storey Apartments, etc.) Typical projects are valued from approximately £5m to £15m, based in the Northwest, Cheshire and Staffordshire areas.

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Review the design resource and plan for workload, managing the team workload.
• Liaise with internal / external resource as appropriate.
• Develop the design function to consistently improve and be better than any competition. To initiate innovation & best practice at every opportunity.
• To develop a relationship with the client and project management team.
• To develop the design programme and design information flow and ensure that these are incorporated into the overall project programme.
• To review project design inputs, processes and outputs on a regular basis ensuring compliance with contract requirements and that any necessary corrective actions are undertaken as required. Ensure Due Diligence is correctly carried out.
• To research for current trends, materials, design ideas, to be able to offer alternative solutions and challenge where appropriate.
• To manage design change controls, ensuring that changes are recorded and communicated to the relevant team members and organisations.
• To work in collaboration with the project team and client, client’s advisors and appointed consultants.
• Ensure our HSQE standards, operating processes, company policies and all legislative requirements are understood, implemented and adhered to at all times.
• Ensure compliance by the Company and all design consultants and designing sub-contractors with the CDM regulations.
• Design and record the scope of duties of each design consultant and designing sub-contractor, ensuring that these are included in the relevant appointment and sub-contract documents.
• Manage the design relationship between the Company, customer, design consultants, designing sub-contractors and statutory bodies acting as the point of contact on all design matters.
• Review with client where improvements can be learned, always strive to do better.

The Successful Design Manager

• As the position is about managing a design team within key accounts you should be able to provide competency as a design lead and have relevant design qualifications.
• This role is open to Design Managers / Architectural Leads working for Consultancies / Design Practices as well as those currently working as inhouse Design Managers for construction contractors.
• Excellent client service focus and previous client facing experience.
• A thorough working knowledge of all current design methods, techniques and practices is essential.
• An ability to influence and manage resource, clients and other disciplines will need to be demonstrated as will the management of programmes and costs.