Senior Design Manager

Fawkes & Reece are proud to be partnering with a leading main contractor in the search for an experienced Senior Design Manager to join the team on a strong pipeline of education sector projects across Essex and the surrounding region.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business with a strong reputation for delivering DfE, academy, and public sector education schemes, working across multiple live and upcoming projects that combine technical complexity with high-quality learning environments.

The portfolio includes a range of new build schools, academies, SEND facilities, and education refurbishments, typically ranging from 5m to 40m+, delivered within both live operational environments and standalone construction sites.

This role offers genuine long-term stability, with repeat framework work and a strong forward pipeline across the education sector.

The Role

The successful candidate will play a key role in managing and coordinating the design process across multiple education projects, ensuring information is fully coordinated, compliant, and buildable from pre-construction through to handover.

Responsibilities:

• Managing the design process across multiple education projects
• Coordinating architects, engineers, consultants and specialist subcontractors
• Reviewing and managing technical design information across RIBA stages 2-5
• Leading design coordination meetings and design workshops
• Resolving technical and buildability challenges within live education environments
• Managing design programmes and consultant deliverables across multiple schemes
• Supporting project teams during pre-construction and delivery stages
• Ensuring compliance with DfE standards, building regulations and project requirements

About You

• Previous experience as a Design Manager or Architect within education, schools, academies or public sector projects
• Experience delivering new build or refurbishment schemes in live environments
• Strong technical design coordination skills across RIBA stages 3-5
• Ability to manage multiple consultants and stakeholder groups
• Excellent communication, coordination and problem-solving skills
• Comfortable working across multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment
• Experience working within DfE frameworks, PSBP, or similar public sector education programmes would be highly advantageous.

For Further Information, Please Apply today, or reach out to (url removed)