Design Manager

Overview

In this role you will lead multidisciplinary design delivery within HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, coordinating design programmes, interfaces and change control to deliver safe, high-quality outputs on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Define objectives with the Project Director and establish a plan to meet programme, budget and quality targets
• Own and maintain the design delivery programme and related plans
• Coordinate communication and information flow with client, internal teams, sub-consultants and partners
• Lead Design Team Meetings with clear minutes, decisions and action tracking
• Improve project management processes (e.g., change control) and run workshops to resolve design issues
• Manage RFIs, warnings, and communications to reduce risk and aid delivery
• Review quotations for scope, budget and client alignment
• Manage changes/delays and assess impacts to mitigate issues
• Maintain understanding of scope and adapt delivery programme and resources
• Itemise service scope, briefing schedules and documentation against standards
• Drive efficiency, innovation and buildability across design stages
• Ensure deliverables meet technical standards and quality, noting scope changes for fees
• Close out projects with lessons learned and client satisfaction processes
• Prioritise safety in design and promote safe team culture
• Support post-contract reviews, close-out reporting, training and succession planning
• Assist in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Quality Management Systems execution and practice management
• Carry out third-party design audits and maintain project registers/technical audits as needed
• Perform other duties as needed

Key requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or a related discipline
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in engineering, design management or project delivery within a design consultancy
• Strong leadership and relationship-building abilities
• Ability to work across disciplines, manage varied workloads and meet tight deadlines while maintaining technical excellence
• Excellent facilitation and written/verbal communication skills
• Strong risk identification and change control mindset
• Proficient in document handling, transmittals, registers and approval workflows
• Experience coordinating multi-discipline design delivery on complex projects
• Knowledge of ISO 9001/14001 quality processes and project governance (desirable)
• Commitment to employee-owned culture

• leadership
• collaboration
• communication (written and verbal)
• multidisciplinary design coordination
• change control and project governance
• transmittals, RFIs and project documents handling

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