Design Manager

IPS-Integrated Project Services; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

IPS-Integrated Project Services in Birmingham, UK, is seeking a Design Manager to lead the architectural team on complex life sciences projects. You will coordinate architectural and engineering design activities, allocate resources, and ensure delivery of design deliverables in line with the project plan.

The role requires 8+ years in engineering design, a relevant degree, strong communication and problem-solving skills, and a collaborative leadership style.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or relevant discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in Engineering Design, Project Delivery, or related discipline in pharma/biotech.
• Analytical thinking and structured problem solving.
• Superior communication skills and ability to build rapport.
• Ability to lead and coordinate multi-discipline teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate architectural and engineering design activities.
• Provide manpower and technical resources for design development.
• Manage design execution and quality plans across projects.
• Lead design handover to construction management teams.
• Monitor design governance, safety, and compliance processes.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Structured problem-solving

Communication skills

Team building

Strong work ethic

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/relevant degree

Job description

At IPS, we are global leaders in developing innovative solutions for the consulting, architecture, engineering, project controls, procurement, construction management, and CQV of technically complex facilities, primarily in the life sciences industry. We are looking for a talented Design Manager to join our industry-leading Architectural team in Birmingham, UK.

In this role, you will manage and coordinate activities of architectural and engineering functions, providing the manpower and technical resources in a specific functional area necessary for overall project design development and support.

Client Focus

• Supports the Project Sponsor and Project Manager to maintain a positive Client relationship.

Organization Development

• Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement of the Design Management Quality Management System for best practise.
• Identifies opportunities to support internal technical reviews for education of IPS personnel and/or application of lessons learned.

Culture

• Maintains team morale through pro-active and collaborative working.
• Identifies gaps in project skillsets to inform adequate training, technical, recruitment and administrative requirements with Design HoD.
• Protects company reputation against release of Project Deliverables not in compliance with Design Management QMS.

Knowledge Sharing

• Utilises and shares experience of best practise for efficient and effective multidiscipline design.
• Project Responsibilities

Project Scope Definition

• Coordinates Assessment of the Client Project Brief and provides a documented response (e.g., Facility Requirements Checklist or equivalent) based on project scale, complexity, level of information available at commencement.
• Assists the PM in Project scope determination and rationalisation of the Project Deliverables List for efficient and effective design.
• Creates and manages the Design Execution and Quality Plan.
• Defines project communication strategy for design execution.
• Identifies statutory regulations and client standards applicable to the project scope, through engagement with Design HoD; assessing whether local expertise is required for new project regions.
• Identifies early stage/post award scope changes to the Project Manager and communicates clear directives to the team as to if and how these changes should be implemented.

Design Strategy & Interface Management

• Prepares Design Responsibilities Matrix: Defines core design ownerships (IPS/Subconsultant/Vendor/ Subcontractor) at each project stage along with BIM Model LOD.
• Defines Level of Detail requirements for all project deliverables at each project stage in alignment with vendor/contractor design engagement strategy.
• Develops Critical Interfaces Matrix and manages coordination of these design interfaces with the Workstream/Discipline Leads.
• Defines and supports the rules of credit alongside the Workstream/Discipline Lead in defining rules of credit for Earned Value tracking.
• Provides design input to the project Procurement Plan: Equipment & Trade Packages.

Design Execution

• Supports PM in engagement of 3rd Party Designers, and coordinates with Discipline Lead in checking and approval of 3rd party design scope and delivery.
• Support Space Management within Process & Facility Design:
• Ensure Space allocation and zonal stack-up for primary equipment and service routes are delivered through Architectural & BIM Coordinators.
• Coordinate and provide an agenda for dynamic model development meetings, such that individual disciplines arrive prepared and deliver progress.
• Support internal and external model reviews, ensuring contracted LOD information is achieved.
• Challenge client/construction team where appropriate.
• Monitor Multi-Discipline Design Coordination engagement across the project.
• Supports Engineering Leads to resolve technical challenges/issues to an appropriate conclusion in a timely manner.
• Supports in the evaluation of potential design changes.
• Reviews Design Decisions and verifies these are well justified and recorded as appropriate, including Target Value Design, where required.
• Reviews Earned Value and Design Progress Reporting alongside the Project Controls team.
• Coordination of Design Safety and Process Safety Reviews at an appropriate point in the project.
• Performs Design Stagegate Assessment at key project milestones.
• Reviews and Signs off Concept and BoD Reports.

Design Quality & Compliance

• Periodic review of Checkprints (QA/QC Procedure) by design disciplines for project deliverables.
• Periodic review that Multidiscipline Squad Checks have been performed per Design Execution and Quality Plan, recorded, and that actions are tracked through to completion.
• Ensure Design Team is prepared for Internal/External Design Reviews (30%, 60%, 90% Design maturity stages minimum).
• Ensures Design Team is prepared for Design Safety and Process Safety Reviews/Assessments.
• Ensures scheduled audits are performed in line with Design Execution and Quality Plan and Design Management QMS, and reviews/disseminates audit outcomes.
• Tracks closeout of audit actions.
• Acts as a resource to other projects for performance of audits.

Design Handover

• Facilitates Design Handover to the Construction Management Team.
• Supports impact assessment of changes to the design, construction and qualification processes, if requested by CMT.

Value Engineering

• Assesses value engineering design solutions proposed for effectiveness across the project design/procurement/construction/commissioning lifecycle.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/relevant degree.
• 8+ years of experience in Engineering Design, Project Delivery, or a related discipline working on projects within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry is essential.
• Experience in the design lifecycle for complex projects from concept through to construction.
• Prior Construction / Commissioning Experience would be beneficial to this role.
• Analytical thinking, structured problem-solving skills, superior communication skills, team building, and strong work ethic.
• Must be able to build a rapport with department staff.
• Progressive ability, capacity, and aptitude in administration to plan, organise, supervise, coordinate technical work, and obtain cooperation from others.
• Ability to work on own initiative in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.

All interviews are conducted either in person or virtually, with video required.

About Us

IPS, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, is a global leader in developing innovative business solutions for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Through operational expertise and industry-leading knowledge, skill, and passion, IPS provides consultancy services, architecture, engineering, project controls, construction management, and compliance services that allow clients to develop and manufacture life-impacting products. Its newest acquisition, Linesight, specializes in cost, schedule, risk, program, and project management services in various market sectors, including data centers, life sciences, and high-tech industries. With the addition of Linesight, IPS has over 3,000 professionals in over 45 offices across 17 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Specialties

Process Architecture, Process Design, Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Qualification, LEAN Project Delivery, Strategic Master Planning, Energy Conservation Management, Project Controls, Program/Project Management, Operations/Logistics Strategy and Planning, EPCMV and Staffing Services.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at IPS without regard to race; creed; color; religion; national origin; sex; age; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic predisposition or carrier status; veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or any other status protected by law. IPS is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.