Design Manager

12 Recruitment Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

12 Recruitment Ltd. is seeking an experienced Design Manager (Residential) for London-based sites. The role focuses on large-scale social and affordable housing projects, coordinating design across multidisciplinary teams.

You’ll lead Gateway 2 submissions and support Gateway 3 through construction, ensuring compliance with regulations and maintaining the Golden Thread of information throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Design Manager for a Main Contractor.
• Proven ability delivering residential new build developments.
• Understanding of Building Safety Act and gateways 2 and 3 requirements.
• Experience maintaining Golden Thread information.

Responsibilities

• Manage design process from pre-construction through to project completion.
• Coordinate consultants and subcontractors across multidisciplinary design teams.
• Develop and monitor design programmes to meet milestones.
• Lead design team meetings and manage consultant performance.
• Review drawings and specifications for buildability and compliance.
• Ensure timely information issuance and risk mitigation throughout lifecycle.
• Coordinate information to support procurement and construction activities.
• Ensure compliance with Building Regulations and statutory requirements.
• Lead Gateway 2 submissions and support Gateway 3 through handover.

Skills

Design management

Residential projects

Stakeholder management

Communication

Buildability knowledge

Education

Degree or HNC/HND in Construction/Architecture/Engineering

Tools

Viewpoint

Asite

Aconex

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Job description

Design Manager (Residential)

Location: London - sites in various locations

Salary: £80,000

About the Opportunity

We're recruiting on behalf of a leading Main Contractor who has secured a strong pipeline of residential developments across London and is looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to join their team.

This role will focus predominantly on large-scale residential new build developments, with an emphasis on social housing and affordable housing schemes. As such, we're looking for someone with a proven track record of managing the design process on similar projects and a thorough understanding of the Building Safety Act, Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 requirements.

Working closely with the pre-construction, commercial and delivery teams, you'll play a key role in ensuring projects are fully coordinated, compliant and delivered efficiently from design through to completion.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a contractor with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality residential developments while offering genuine career progression and long-term stability.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Design Management, you'll take responsibility for managing the design process across one or multiple residential developments throughout all project stages.

You'll coordinate consultants, specialist subcontractors and internal teams, ensuring information is issued on time, design risks are managed and statutory compliance is achieved throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the design process from pre-construction through to project completion.
• Coordinate architects, structural engineers, MEP consultants and specialist subcontractors.
• Develop, monitor and manage design programmes to ensure key project milestones are achieved.
• Lead design team meetings and manage consultant performance.
• Review drawings, specifications and technical submissions to ensure buildability and compliance.
• Work closely with commercial, planning and site delivery teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify design risks and implement practical mitigation strategies.
• Manage design changes while maintaining programme and commercial objectives.
• Coordinate design information to support procurement and construction activities.
• Ensure projects comply with current Building Regulations and statutory requirements.
• Lead the Gateway 2 submission process, ensuring all required design information is complete, coordinated and compliant.
• Support Gateway 3 requirements through construction, commissioning and project handover.
• Liaise with the Building Safety Regulator where required.
• Maintain the Golden Thread of information throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure all design decisions are accurately documented and recorded.
• Support value engineering exercises without compromising compliance or quality.
• Promote collaboration between design consultants, site teams and supply chain partners.

About You

We're looking for an experienced Design Manager with a strong background delivering residential projects for a Main Contractor.

You’ll ideally have:

• Previous experience working as a Design Manager for a Main Contractor.
• Proven experience delivering residential new build developments.
• Experience working on social housing or affordable housing projects.
• A thorough understanding of the Building Safety Act.
• Practical experience managing Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 compliance.
• Experience maintaining the Golden Thread of information.
• Strong knowledge of current Building Regulations and planning requirements.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of buildability.
• Experience using common document management systems such as Viewpoint, Asite, Aconex or Autodesk Construction Cloud would be advantageous.
• Degree or HNC/HND in Construction, Architecture, Engineering or a related discipline.