Salary $70,000 + Benefits
General Overview:
The Design Manager will oversee a number of small to medium-sized projects and pre-construction opportunities. The role involves reviewing and technically appraising submissions, ranging from large projects to elemental works.
Impact:
The role is responsible for the successful delivery of technical services across construction and pre-construction activities. This includes coordinating sustainability schemes and refurbishment projects, alongside a broader technical review and coordination of submissions in the Central region. Strong organisational skills and adherence to compliance standards are essential, as are people management skills to manage information flow and support timely decision-making for designers, production teams, and clients.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the appointment process for all consultants and manage the legal review process for completed agreements.
- Manage the design programme to ensure information is provided for procurement and production, including maintaining an Information Requirements Schedule (IRS).
- Oversee planning and regulatory application processes, including full and outline planning, submission of minor amendments, and condition clearance. Manage planning fee payments.
- Coordinate building control, warranty, and third-party consultant services to support project delivery.
- Review and approve drawings and manage project information portals to achieve construction-ready documentation.
- Assist Project Managers with client engagement and preparation of information to obtain instructions. Manage design changes and change control processes.
- Monitor the performance and output of consultants and sub-contract designers, ensuring design information is clear and actionable.
- Maintain compliance with internal process standards (“Golden Rules”) across all projects and ensure documentation, trackers, and minutes of meetings are up to date.
- Encourage innovation and creativity in problem-solving, value engineering, and efficient design solutions.
- Participate in continuing professional development (CPD) and learning opportunities.
- Provide pre-construction support, including site visits, contractor proposals, fee schedules, technical guidance for estimating teams, risk assessment, and design solutions. Attend adjudications and client meetings as needed.
Complexity:
The role requires unstructured decision-making, informed by extensive sector experience and knowledge of technical challenges and solutions. Leadership is critical in motivating staff and suppliers to achieve project objectives.
Typical problems solved by the role include:
- Planning and building control applications
- Budgetary agreements and payment approvals
- Technical oversight of sustainability requirements
- Supplier selection and appointment
- Design programming aligned with master programmes
- Technical problem-solving
- Auditing of technical reports
Higher-level problems requiring escalation include:
- Work assignment and allocation
- Resource planning and recruitment within the team
- Establishing production processes and methods
Qualifications / Required Experience:
- Degree-level or equivalent chartered qualification in a relevant discipline.
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a similar role within the sector.
Competencies (Middle Manager Level):
- Entrepreneurial and innovative thinking
- Providing purpose and focus
- Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders
- Driving sustainable performance and efficiency