Design Manager

BENNETT CONSTRUCTION; England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

BENNETT CONSTRUCTION is seeking a Design Manager for a large residential scheme in Oxfordshire. This role involves site-based management of design teams and ensuring compliance with building regulations. Candidates must have experience with projects exceeding £100m and will be responsible for chairing meetings, managing deadlines, and overseeing design approvals. Strong communication skills and attention to detail are essential for success in this role. The project is set to complete in Q3 2027.

Qualifications

• Minimum 50% site-based role with previous large-scale design & build experience.
• Exposure to BSA projects with complete design from stage 3 in 12-14 months.
• Ability to manage design consultants and subcontractors effectively.

Responsibilities

• Manage design team and subcontractors on-site and in office.
• Ensure compliance with building regulations and client requirements.
• Chair project design team meetings and ensure design approvals.

Skills

Design management

Residential construction

Building regulations knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Confidence in client interaction

Attention to detail

BIM understanding

Meeting management

Decisiveness

Design enforcement

Job description

The role will involve full design management & coordination of the project including management of Contractor’s design team to include all subcontractors with design responsibility. This role would be minimum 50% site based with the remaining time spent in Head Office.

The successful candidate will be required to have previous experience working on large scale design & build residential schemes with value in excess of £100m with design being complete from stage 3 in 12-14 months. The successful candidate will require exposure to BSA projects including co-ordinating design for such.

Project Description

This project consists of 100 unit later living scheme in the heart of the Oxfordshire Countryside. The scheme is built across 4 residential apartment blocks with an RC frame and brick façade. The scheme is equipped with a swimming pool and central wellbeing facility with very detailed façade and external works. The scheme is currently under construction and is due to complete Q3 2027.

Key Skills

• Develop quick understanding of design team scope of service including setting out
• Input in sub-contractor packages and scopes of works to ensure all items have been included.
• Good understanding of residential construction and current building regulations, Building safety Act including warranty Provider requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills at all levels
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and achieve targets
• Desirable to have a basic understanding of BIM.
• Confident in leading & chairing meetings including writing effective meeting minutes.
• Confidence in dealing with client team.
• Decisive when faced with on-site issues to avoid delays to progress.
• Effective management of design consultants & sub-contractors including strong enforcement of the design deliverables and timeline.
• Knowledge of Principal Contractor and Design roles (CDM & Building Control etc)

Operational Actions

• Set out Information release schedule to align with master programme
• Consultant procurement & scope of service
• Assist with Pre-Construction requirements to protect Contractor.
• Carry out buildability review
• Identify commercial impact of any changes to ER’s prior to incorporation into design.
• Review client ER’s including gap analysis and subsequent RFI schedule
• Input into Procurement of subcontract packages incl scope
• Chair project design team meetings with CMT & Contractor team.
• Carry out design workshops as required
• Agree design approvals process with client team which they will be responsible for managing.
• Input design section into monthly progress report and present at in-person project progress meeting.
• Full control of design submittals including status of information
• Full control of discharging regulatory requirements not limited to planning, building control, BREEAM, HQM, SBD, S278, BSA GW2 & GW3, ESG, Warranty provider.
• Manage sample sign-off for all finishes including collating of all samples and creating sample tracker for client sign-off.
• Assist in collating the O&M manual prior to Practical completion.
• Ensure all regulatory conditions are discharged in a timely manner to avoid any delays to PC
• Ensure document control process is being managed effectively including liaising with site Document Controller

We are an equal opportunities employer.