Design Manager

Wates; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction business in Cardiff is seeking a Design Manager to join their Wales team. The Design Manager will drive quality outcomes, foster innovation, and collaborate with stakeholders throughout design, procurement, and construction. Ideal candidates will possess strong technical skills, risk management capabilities, and a commitment to health and safety compliance. Competitive salary, flexible working, and extensive corporate benefits are offered to support career development within this dynamic environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary & profit share scheme

Flexible working

Car Allowance / Company Car

Extensive corporate benefits

Customizable learning and development programmes

Industry leading family leave benefits

Qualifications

• Experience working collaboratively with stakeholders to manage design processes.
• Strong technical capability and understanding of design and construction processes.
• Ability to identify and manage risks and opportunities effectively.

Responsibilities

• Produce and manage a realistic design programme and information requirements schedule.
• Support the delivery of Continuous Improvement initiatives across projects.
• Ensure designs are reviewed for compliance and mitigate risks prior to construction.

Skills

Collaborative design skills

Technical capability

Risk management

Health & Safety compliance

Innovative thinking

Job description

Wates are looking for a Design Manager to join our Wales team, delivering high‑quality new homes for local communities.

If you’re passionate about great design, enjoy working collaboratively, and have strong technical capability, this is an opportunity to challenge the norm, bring fresh ideas, and progress your career within a leading construction business. Join us and help create tomorrow, together.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop professionally as part of a talented, diverse and supportive team.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Our Design Managers are a valuable part of our business, driving quality outcomes, enhancing buildability and fostering innovation. Design Managers work collaboratively with our industry specialists and in-house technical experts to ensure that the design develops in accordance with the brief with a firm focus on added value, compliance, commercial viability, and best practice.

As our Design Manager you will:

• Collaborate with all relevant internal and external stakeholders to produce and manage a realistic design programme and information requirements schedule that supports design, procurement, and construction activities.
• Support the delivery of Continuous Improvement initiatives and drive innovation across projects.
• Ensure designs are robustly reviewed and verified to achieve compliance and mitigate Health & Safety, design, and buildability risks prior to construction.
• Identify and manage key risks and opportunities at each stage of the design and delivery process.
• Promote quality, coordination, and buildability from concept through to delivery.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary & profit share scheme
• Flexible working
• Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role/Grade)
• Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates)
• Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more…
• One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group)
• Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.