Design Management Talent Community - Life Sciences

Laing O'Rourke; Dartford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm is seeking a Senior Design Manager to oversee pre-construction design development in Dartford. This role involves leading design management for major projects in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. Ideal candidates will have a degree in Building Services or Architecture and extensive design management experience. The position promises innovative work on iconic buildings with a commitment to quality and safety.

Qualifications

• End-to-end design management experience from concept to handover.
• Experience in Life Sciences, Laboratories, or Healthcare sectors.
• Proactive and detail-oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-construction design development on large-scale projects.
• Drive design management excellence through compliance and safety.
• Bridge between commercial, operations, and design teams.

Skills

Design management experience

Collaboration and teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Building Services, Architecture, or a construction-related discipline

Job description

Shape the Future of Science and Innovation with Laing O'Rourke

Are you experienced in Life Sciences or Laboratory projects?

Passionate about exemplary design management?

Keen to work on iconic, technically complex buildings that define the future of healthcare, science and technology?

Then we want to hear from you.

Laing O'Rourke is recruiting Design Managers (from Building Services or Architectural backgrounds) to join our pioneering teams in Oxford, London and the South East, delivering some of the UK's most high-profile projects.

Our Projects Include:

The Ellison Institute of Technology – a cutting-edge research and development hub in Oxford
A major £900M Life Sciences facility – just awarded, based from Dartford and London
These are not just projects — they are transformative, once-in-a-generation opportunities to shape the built environment for scientific progress.

The Role: Senior Design Manager

As a key member of our Technical Function, you will:

• Lead pre-construction design development on large-scale projects
• Drive design management excellence through buildability, safety, and technical compliance
• Act as a bridge between commercial, operations, and design teams
• Implement our structured design management processes, from briefing through to delivery
• Promote innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement in design delivery
• Be a champion of our Engineering Enterprise, helping unlock the full value of design across the project lifecycle

What We're Looking For:

• End-to-end design management experience (concept to handover)
• A degree in Building Services, Architecture, or a construction-related discipline
• Sector experience in Life Sciences, Laboratories, Healthcare or similarly complex projects
• A proactive, collaborative, and detail-oriented mindset

We welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a passion for learning – even if you don't tick every box.

Why Laing O'Rourke?

We're a global engineering and construction innovator with 150+ years of heritage, delivering complex buildings and infrastructure with certainty and quality. We operate across the UK, Middle East, and Australia and are proud to deliver projects that make a real difference.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Please get in touch if you require adjustments or would like the application in another format: [e-mail]

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