Design Manager

The Barbican; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A busy main contractor in London is seeking an experienced Freelance Design Manager to support a high-pressure workload, managing design and coordination across live projects and tenders. Ideal candidates will possess over 5 years' experience in design management within a UK main contractor environment, showcasing strong communication and organizational skills. This role offers a competitive day rate along with hybrid working options, providing an opportunity to make a significant impact from day one.

Benefits

Competitive day rate

Hybrid working available

Long, stable pipeline of work

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience as a Design Manager for a UK main contractor.
• Strong pre-construction and design coordination background.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across several live workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Providing hands-on design management support across live projects.
• Coordinating consultants, subcontractors, and teams.
• Reviewing drawings and specifications for buildability and coordination issues.

Skills

Design management

Pre-construction coordination

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Job description

"

A busy main contractor is looking for an experienced Freelance Design Manager to step in and support a high‑pressure pre‑construction and live project workload across London and the Home Counties. They\'re dealing with a surge in live schemes and upcoming tenders, and need someone who can slot in quickly, bring structure to the design process, and take ownership of coordination across multiple workstreams. This is an urgent requirement - ideal for a Design Manager who's confident operating independently and providing immediate value.

"

What you\'ll be doing

• Providing hands‑on design management support across live projects and active tenders
• Coordinating consultants, subcontractors and internal teams to keep design, programme and technical deliverables aligned
• Reviewing drawings and specs for buildability, risk, clashes and coordination issues
• Leading and minuting design meetings, managing RFIs, approvals and document flows
• Supporting pre‑construction teams with technical input that strengthens tender submissions
• Helping maintain programme and technical compliance across multiple schemes

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience as a Design Manager for a UK main contractor
• Strong pre‑construction and design coordination background
• Ability to manage competing priorities across several live workstreams
• Clear communicator who brings order, structure and pace to design information
• Someone polished, organised and comfortable in a fast‑moving contractor environment

The Current Workload

• Multiple tenders requiring immediate design coordination
• Live project support needed across major schemes, including a high‑profile sports facility and a large assisted‑living development
• \'You\'ll be stepping into a stretched team that genuinely needs extra firepower

Why this role?

• Long, stable pipeline with potential for ongoing freelance extensions
• Hybrid working available (site/office/home mix)
• Competitive day rate depending on experience
• Opportunity to make a tangible impact from day one

"