Senior Design Manager

Job Title: Senior Design Manager

Location: Hertfordshire

Role Overview

The Senior Design Manager will lead and manage the design process across a portfolio of Design & Build projects, ensuring delivery of high-quality, fully coordinated design information that aligns with the agreed specification, programme, and cost plan. Reporting directly to the Head of Design, the role will involve strategic oversight of consultants, mentoring of design team members, and close collaboration with clients and internal project teams.

The business operates across a broad range of sectors including education (schools), healthcare, commercial and industrial, offering candidates the opportunity to work on a diverse and technically engaging range of schemes.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Management

• Lead the design process on multiple D&B projects from tender through to construction and handover.

• Act as the senior point of contact for all design-related matters with clients, consultants, and internal production teams.

• Ensure the effective flow of information, reviews, approvals, and change control via the company s document management systems (Ashe s Workspace).

• Provide strategic input into design development to ensure alignment with programme, budget, and employer s requirements.

Consultant & Team Management

• Manage the appointment of consultants, including scope definition, fee agreements, warranties, and performance monitoring.

• Ensure consultants deliver in line with their agreed scope of services, statutory obligations, and programme milestones.

• Mentor and support Design Managers and Assistant Design Managers, promoting best practice across the design team.

• Provide structured feedback on consultant performance to the Head of Design / Technical Director.

Programme, Cost & Value Engineering

• Produce, manage, and monitor detailed design programmes for consultants and subcontractors.

• Review drawings, specifications, and design information against Employer s Requirements and Contractor s Proposals.

• Proactively identify and develop value engineering and alternative construction solutions without compromising quality or compliance.

• Provide technical input to support commercial objectives, including gross margin targets on D&B projects.

Meetings, Approvals & Compliance

• Organise, chair, and lead design team meetings, workshops, and technical reviews.

• Issue clear and timely meeting minutes, actions, and trackers.

• Manage the delivery of all statutory and regulatory approvals including Planning, Building Control, Principal Designer, and Local Authorities.

• Ensure full CDM compliance, risk mitigation, and close-out of all identified design and construction risks.

BIM, Technical & Site Support

• On BIM projects, oversee compliance with BIM protocols, ensuring clash detection and coordination processes are completed.

• Provide technical support to the tender process, including Contractor s Proposals and buildability reviews.

• Attend site as required to support the construction team, resolve technical issues, and ensure design intent is maintained.

Business & Professional Development

• Attend client interviews and bid presentations for potential new projects.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the design and technical functions.

• Maintain CPD requirements and professional body memberships.

• Ensure compliance with company policies, project objectives, and personal performance targets.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in Design Management within a main contractor environment, ideally on D&B projects.

• Proven track record of leading design teams across multiple sectors (education, healthcare, commercial, industrial).

• Strong knowledge of UK building regulations, planning processes, and CDM requirements.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Self-directed, highly motivated, and able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive and commercial mindset.

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a wider project and leadership team.

Key Performance Indicators

• Gross margin performance on D&B projects

• Percentage of D&B projects completed on time and to programme

• Quality and compliance of design information

• Consultant performance and design risk management