Design Manager

Design Manager

We are seeking an experienced Design Manager to join a well-established contractor, working on a £50m commercial refurbishment project in Central London. This is an excellent opportunity for a Design Manager to play a key role in the successful delivery of a complex refurbishment scheme, managing the design process from pre-construction through to completion.

Responsibilities

The Design Manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of the design process, ensuring high-quality, coordinated, and compliant design information is delivered in line with project requirements, programme deadlines, and client expectations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage the design process with consideration for commercial, contractual, programme, and technical requirements.
• Coordinate and manage internal and external design consultant teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee the development of design information from concept through to construction issue deliverables.
• Prepare, manage, monitor, and report on Design Information Release Schedules, Design Programmes, and Design Responsibility Matrices.
• Ensure design information complies with current legislation, industry standards, and relevant codes of practice.
• Develop and maintain effective drawing and document control processes.
• Work closely with the Project Manager and Planner to align the design programme with the construction programme.
• Support tender opportunities, procurement activities, and value engineering exercises.
• Lead design team meetings, coordination workshops, and design reviews.
• Review design information for quality, compliance, health & safety, CDM requirements, and buildability.
• Manage the site RFI process and maintain accurate registers.
• Support the management of variations, change control, and design-related risks.
• Build strong working relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and key stakeholders.
• Manage client expectations and ensure effective communication throughout the project.
• Ensure design information is delivered to the required standard, quality, and timescales.
• Support site teams with SHEQ requirements, quality documentation, and inspection processes.
• Assist with the preparation and management of QA files, ITPs, and site quality documentation.
• Support BIM implementation and the development of BIM standards where required.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification within design, construction, engineering, or a related discipline.

Experience & Skills

• Previous experience working as a Design Manager within the construction industry.
• Experience delivering large-scale commercial refurbishment or fit-out projects.
• Strong leadership and coordination skills.
• Excellent attention to detail with a focus on quality and accuracy.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Good understanding of construction processes, buildability, and project delivery.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with Document Control processes.
• Experience using Viewpoint or similar Common Data Environment (CDE) platforms.
• Knowledge of BIM processes, procedures, and software.
• Experience working on complex refurbishment or commercial projects.