Design Manager

Reference: VAC-8682_

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:

• - 8% matched pension contributions
• - Life assurance
• - 26 days' annual leave
• - A wide range of family-friendly policies
• - Flexible benefits package
• - Personal and professional development opportunities