Design Manager

© 2025 Borne Resourcing Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading contractor firm in Greater London seeks an experienced Freelance Design Manager to support a demanding workload. Responsibilities include managing design processes, coordinating teams, and driving project success. The ideal candidate has over 5 years' experience in a UK contractor environment, possesses strong communication skills, and thrives in a fast-paced setting. This role offers a competitive day rate and the opportunity to impact projects from day one.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Competitive day rate

Opportunity for ongoing extensions

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience as a Design Manager for a UK main contractor.
• Strong pre-construction and design coordination background.
• Clear communicator who can bring order and structure.

Responsibilities

• Provide design management support across live projects and active tenders.
• Coordinate teams to keep design, programme and technical deliverables aligned.
• Review drawings and specs for buildability and coordination issues.
• Lead design meetings and manage RFIs and document flows.

Skills

Design management

Pre-construction coordination

Communication

Organizational skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Job description

Design Manager

London

Posted: 24/11/2025

£370.00- £430.00 / Day

J29480

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 is 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

What they're looking for

• 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

Interested? Drop me a message or give me a call.
Michael Ogunyankin - 07551 155 789
michael @ borneltd . com
No pressure – happy to share more details if it sounds like something you could step into.