Design manager

Randstad · Maidstone, South East

Design manager at Randstad, based in Maidstone, South East. This is a permanent role.

Salary
Competitive
Location
Maidstone, South East
Contract
Permanent
Posted
11 hours ago
Closes
18 Nov 2026
Sector
Graphic Designer

Reference PR-1557469

About the role


Job Title: Design Management Lead
Location: Maidstone, Kent
Sector: Civil Engineering & Infrastructure (Water)
About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Design Management Lead (DML) to lead the Engineering Design Management Team on a major, high-value water project based in Maidstone as part of a key regional water framework.

In this role, you will work directly alongside Design Partners, Project Managers, and the Commercial Team to oversee design consultants, ensuring technical excellence, robust risk management, and delivery against project specifications and target budgets. You will play a crucial part in managing change, driving programme progress, and upholding the highest standards of Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE).


Key Responsibilities
  • Design Coordination: Lead and manage multi-disciplinary design teams, aligning outputs with the project programme, conducting technical reviews, and managing RFIs, TQs, and waivers.

  • CDM & Safety: Apply CDM 2015 regulations and principles of prevention as Principal Designer.

  • Commercial & Change Management: Manage design change control in conjunction with commercial teams to ensure solutions remain within target cost allowances.

  • Governance & Milestones: Drive design deliverables to meet both internal and client governance milestones.

  • Innovation & Best Practice: Implement BIM/Digital execution, DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly), carbon reduction strategies, and supply chain engagement.

  • Value Engineering & Buildability: Support project teams with buildability reviews, value engineering, and the creation of integrated project programmes.

  • Leadership & Reporting: Lead design meetings, track design performance (Cost and Schedule), and implement the overall design management strategy for the framework.


Requirements & Person Specification
  • Education: Degree in Engineering, Design, or Construction Management.

  • Industry Experience: Extensive experience in Design Management within the UK Water Industry.

  • Technical Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations, 2D/3D environments, BIM standards, and Common Data Environments (CDEs).

  • Commercial Acumen: Solid commercial and contractual awareness with a strong track record of managing design budgets and change control.

  • Key Skills: Excellent communication, time management, and stakeholder management capabilities.

  • Professional Membership: Professional membership with a relevant body (e.g., ICE, CIWEM, CIBSE) is desirable.

For more information in regards to the role please contact Daniel Stepney by email on or over the phone on [phone removed].

Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.


skills

design management


education

BSc engineering

Reference: PR-1557469 · Posted 11 hours ago · Closes 18 Nov 2026 · Listed via Randstad

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