Design Manager

Gilbert-Ash Limited; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilbert-Ash Ltd. is seeking a Project Design Lead to manage the overall design across allocated projects, coordinating consultants, designers and sub-contractors to meet programme and budget.

The role involves chairing technical meetings, managing RFI and DAR processes, and ensuring compliance with ERs, BREEAM and information release schedules. The successful candidate will have a related degree, 3+ years of construction design experience, and strong leadership and communication skills, with

Qualifications

• A related construction or design qualification: Degree / Post Grad Cert. MSc.
• COSHH, CSCS Card and health & safety training are required.
• Experience creating coordinated, clear and coherent designs.
• Ability to manage teams from different disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Managing overall design of allocated projects, appointing and monitoring consultants and sub-contractors.
• Developing design programmes and information release schedules.
• Managing meetings with design team and supply chain throughout pre- and construction phases.
• Co-ordinating, reviewing and validating design information for compliance and durability.
• Supporting tender submissions and design responses to ensure alignment with budget and programme.
• Attending client meetings and reporting progress on design release.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Client liaison

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Web-based information portals

Education

Related construction/design qualification (Degree / Post Grad Cert. MSc.)

CSCS Card

COSHH

RIBA / ACE / APM / CIOB Membership

First Aid at Work Qualification

SSSTS or SMSTS card

Tools

AutoCAD / BIM

Job description

Will be dependent on successful candidate and will be either Head Office, 60 Boucher Place, Belfast, BT12 6HT or ROI office at 51a Dawson Street, Dublin, D2 AN25, with travel to the Company’s construction sites throughout the UK and ROI.

Summary of role

Reporting to the Design Project Director, the post holder will be responsible for managing the overall design of the projects allocated to them, this will include appointing, managing and monitoring progress of consultants, designers and specialist sub-contractors. Ensuring that the design is progressed in such a manner as to achieve all of the contracted deliverables, whilst maximising commercial opportunities and ensuring that all design information is released in lines with the requirements of the project construction programme and procurement schedule.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

Developing a comprehensive understanding of the contents of the Employers Requirements and Performance specifications, looking for opportunities to develop the detailed design, maximising margins and reduce latent risks to Gilbert Ash.

• Negotiating and executing the appointments, scope and fees of consultants and designers.
• Preparing design programmes and Information Release Schedules, getting designers and specialist sub-contractor buy-in to these timescales and then managing the process and monitoring progress during the course of the project.
• Reviewing key materials and interfaces, ensuring they are fit for purpose and provide long-term durable solutions without exposing Gilbert-ash to unnecessary latent maintenance or H&S risks.
• Reviewing all design information, ensuring it is clear, complete, meets statutory requirements, complies with the ERs and is fully coordinated with all other disciplines.
• Organising, scheduling and chairing technical meetings with members of the Designteam and supply chain, during the pre and construction phases of the project.
• Generating technical queries and monitor response performance.
• Managing the close out of statutory requirements on projects, in relation to Planning and the BCAR process.
• Attending client meetings, reporting on design release/ design development progress, ensuring support and guidance is offered to the client in relation to requests and their obligations in the building design.
• Participating in tender submissions and producing answers to questions to support the construction logic in line with coordination, design management, BREEAM, etc.
• Attending and presenting at client interviews.
• Reviewing tender drawings and assisting the Estimating team in understanding any gaps or risks within the tender design.
• Managing the RFI process, raising the RFI, following up with the relevant party, reporting on progress and closing out.
• Managing the DAR (Document Approval Request) process, raising the RFI, following up with the relevant party, reporting on progress and closing out.
• Managing the sample approval process, in a timeous manner, following up with the relevant party, reporting on progress and closing out. This applies both to Planningrequirements and sample requirements within the ERs.
• Setting up and managing Drawing Control protocol for issuing drawings and onward distribution to sub-contractors and the wider project team.
• Overseeing the BREEAM tracker, ensuring all designers fulfil the requirements and provide the evidence for credits allocated to them. Assisting the Contracts Manager and QS in providing the evident required for contractor allocated credits.
• Providing technical / commercial support to the project surveyor, relating to design development, VE, potential variations and settlement of final accounts.
• Contributing to the compilation of the project handover documentation, O&M manuals, H&S files, Building User Guides and as-built information.
• Developing construction staff knowledge through participation at technical meetings and site inspections, particularly, relating to awareness of scope, installation logistics, programme and interface issues.
• Fulfilling health, safety and welfare responsibilities as detailed in the Company’s Policy and in compliance with ISO 45001. Chairing CMD design meetings to ensurethat we are fulfilling our responsibility to design out H&S risks, and if there are residual risks that can’t be designed out, that the appropriate management strategiesand mitigation measures are implemented.
• Maintaining quality and environmental control procedures in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
• Ensuring design process recognises current legislation, standards and codes of practice where appropriate.
• Creating and maintaining good relations with Consultants, Clients and Contractors ensuring effective communication channels are in place.
• Ensuring the Company’s Site Waste Minimisation and Management Policy is applied during the design and development stage of the project.
• Maintaining comprehensive and accurate records of own activity relating to projectson Gateway, enabling traceability.
• Carrying out people management practices in line with the Company’s polices as well as any HR strategies / initiatives.
• Fulfilling the role of mentor as and when required.
• Encouraging, promoting and implementing sustainable design practices including innovative solutions.
• Continually develop knowledge of innovative construction techniques and products, enhancing the business and fulfilling company CPD requirements.
• Undertaking all relevant training and development activities as required.
• Attending industry dinners, functions, seminars etc., as required on behalf of theCompany.
• Contributing to the Company’s Corporate Responsibility initiatives.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to take on other dutiesand responsibilities for the effective and efficient performance of this role.

Person specification

Required Experience:

• 3+ years’ experience and knowledge of all aspects of construction projects.
• Document Management.
• Experience managing teams from different disciplines.
• Proven experience creating co-ordinated, clear and coherent designs.
• Experience in supervisory or organisational role within the construction industry.
• Experience of carrying out appraisals.

Required Education:

• A related construction or design qualification: Degree / Post Grad Cert. MSc.
• CSR or CSCS Card.
• COSHH.
• RIBA / ACE / APM / CIOB Membership.
• AutoCAD / BIM
• SSSTS or SMSTS card.
• Recognised First Aid at Work Qualification.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to create and maintain good working relationships with clients.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to motivate.
• Excelling written and oral skills.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Packages.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Knowledge of Web-based information Portals.
• Knowledge of Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Other – Desirable:

• Eligibility to work within the UK.
• Flexibility to work away from home for periods of a time.

Gilbert-Ash Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer and therefore is committed to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity and does not discriminate, whether on grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, age, class, religion or belief, community background or passport held. These principles underpin our professional behaviour and are embedded in our policies, procedures, day-to-day practices, and external relationships. We therefore welcome and encourage job applications from a fully diverse range of candidates.

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