Senior Design Manager

Overview

In this role, you lead design solutions for refurbishment and building improvement works, guiding multidisciplinary teams from feasibility to construction. You ensure designs are compliant, buildable, and commercially viable, while coordinating design activities in live environments to minimise disruption. You’ll oversee design programmes, liaise with authorities and stakeholders, and drive innovative, efficient upgrades. This position offers exposure to a high-profile refurbishment and modernisation programme within a collaborative, safety-focused culture.

Pay / Benefits

• Smart working with hybrid options
• Up to 40% remote working
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family-friendly policies including extended maternity/adoption leave and paternity leave
• Pension and share incentive plan
• Volunteering leave and recognition schemes

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of design solutions for refurbishment, remediation and building improvement works
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams (architectural, structural, MEP)
• Drive design process from feasibility to construction ensuring compliance, buildability and commercial viability
• Manage design programmes and align information release with construction sequencing
• Provide technical leadership on building remediation, compliance and modernisation projects
• Coordinate consultants, specialist subcontractors and external design partners
• Collaborate with project, commercial, planning and delivery teams to resolve design challenges and mitigate risks
• Ensure design proposals meet Building Regulations and Building Safety Regulator expectations
• Review existing building constraints and develop practical refurbishment/upgrade solutions
• Liaise with statutory authorities, building control and key stakeholders
• Identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency and continuous improvement across the project

Key requirements

• Proven experience as Design Manager or Senior Design Manager in construction
• Strong experience in refurbishment, remediation, building improvement or major maintenance
• Experience coordinating design in occupied/live environments
• Solid understanding of building safety legislation and BSR requirements
• Experience delivering fire safety improvements and compliance-led works
• Knowledge of challenges in modifying and upgrading existing buildings
• Experience coordinating architectural, structural and MEP design disciplines
• Ability to challenge designs from buildability, programme and operational perspectives
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience managing external consultants and subcontractor design packages
• Good understanding of BIM and digital design processes
• Knowledge of current construction regulations, standards and best practice
• CSCS card
• Professional membership of relevant institution advantageous

• Stakeholder management
• Effective communication
• Commercial awareness
• BIM and digital design processes
• Understanding of Building Regulations and BSR requirements
• Knowledge of fire safety improvements and compliance-led works

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