Design Manager

Willmott Dixon; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced pension scheme

Private medical cover

Life assurance

Incentive bonus

Car scheme

Job summary

Willmott Dixon is seeking a Design Manager to support projects across the North East. The role offers hybrid work from the Gateshead office, home, and onsite duties, with involvement across education, leisure, health, blue light and commercial sectors.

You will oversee design programmes, promote interdisciplinary integration and lead consultants to deliver on our ambitious project pipeline valued from £5m to £50m. Willmott Dixon rewards performance with a market-leading benefits package.

Qualifications

• Responsibilities-focused role requiring strong organisational and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design process to produce accurate information aligned with specifications and cost plans.
• Oversee appointment and performance of consultants to agreed scope of services.
• Develop design programmes with consultants to meet whole-life programme dates.
• Provide cost-effective technical solutions for projects.
• Chair design team meetings and manage actions to closure.
• Ensure designs meet regulatory approvals and maintain accurate tracking logs.

Job description

Willmott Dixon is looking for a Design Manager to support our projects across the North East region. The successful candidate will work in a hybrid way from our North East (Gateshead) office, at home and onsite.

As one of the top employers in the industry (Best big company 2022), we're looking for someone to manage the design process, promote the integration of disciplines and select, manage, and appoint consultants to ensure that they perform in line with their deed and agreed scope of services.

Responsibilities

You will therefore be able to overview, monitor and report on design programmes, and provide technical support to the bid process. In addition, you will be developing designs that utilise innovative techniques on multiple/complex projects. Communication, attention to detail and working collaboratively are crucial in this role and will help you carry out the following responsibilities;

• Lead the design process to produce accurate information in line with the agreed specification and cost plan/estimate
• It is also equally important to manage the appointment of consultants and ensure that they perform in line with their deed and agreed scope of services
• Develop a design programme with the consultants to meet the agreed whole life programme dates
• Provide cost-effective technical solutions
• Chair design team meetings and issue actions
• Produce designs that meet all necessary statutory and regulatory approvals and record on appropriate tracking logs

You will be leading the design on exciting projects ranging in value from £5m to £50m across a range of sectors, including Education, Leisure, Health, Blue Light and Commercial. With several projects on the ground and a transparent pipeline, you can have the confidence you are joining a stable business with a great culture.

Additional Information

We reward our people generously with a competitive salary and a market-leading benefits package that gives you flexible benefits to fit your lifestyle and priorities. This includes but is not limited to, an enhanced pension scheme, discounted or full private medical, life assurance, incentive bonus and a car scheme which will make us a market leader in sustainable company travel. Applicable roles will benefit from a motoring expenditure allowance (MEA) and everyone can access a new generation of low carbon and electric cars via the Willmott Dixon run car leasing scheme.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon's purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 Big Companies to Work For in 2025, named among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024, and ranked in the Top Five of Europe's 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times in 2025.

Willmott Dixon is also the first major contractor and developer to win a King's Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.