Design Manager

Starlyne Recruitment; Harlow; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday per year

Group Personal Pension Scheme

Private Health Insurance (subject to a

Eye care voucher scheme

Training & Development Opportunities

Car allowance

Job summary

Starlyne Recruitment is seeking a Design Manager in Harlow to lead design across one or more projects within a Tier 1 main contractor environment. You will ensure compliance with Building Regulations, CDM and Building Safety Act while coordinating consultants, subcontractors and internal teams for design excellence and buildability.

You will oversee the design programme, drive SiD, manage RFIs, and support pre-construction activities, aiming for timely, safe delivery and robust information flows

Qualifications

• Must have a design management background in a main contracting environment.
• Strong technical design background with a construction-related degree.
• Solid understanding of Building Safety Act, CDM, Building Regs, etc.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing specialist subcontractors.
• Proficient in BIM processes and BIM platforms (Viewpoint 4P).

Responsibilities

• Lead the management of the design process across one or more projects.
• Coordinate the full design team including consultants and design-and-build subcontractors.
• Manage the design programme, RFIs, change control and document control processes.
• Ensure designs are compliant with Building Regulations, planning conditions, CDM, and other statutory requirements.
• Drive Safety in Design (SiD) and embed buildability and health & safety risk mitigation.
• Oversee BIM coordination, clash detection reviews, and digital model audits.
• Support tendering, value engineering and pre-construction activities.
• Maintain a high level of technical and commercial awareness in all design decision-making.
• Engage in client meetings and lead proactive design-based communication.
• Participate in lessons learned and best practice forums to enhance our delivery model.
• Mentor junior design team members and actively support CPD development.

Skills

Design management

Main contracting

Coordination

Building Regulations

BIM coordination

Communication

CPD mentoring

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction-related discipline

Tools

Viewpoint 4P

Job description

I'm currently recruting on behalf of my client a Leading Tier1 Main Contractor a Design Manager in the Harlow area.

About the Project:

New Build Dfe scheme £70m project value.

The Role

As Design Manager, you will be responsible for managing the design intent through detailed interrogation, coordination, and leadership of the design process across the full project lifecycle. This includes ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act, CDM Regulations, statutory approvals.

You will work collaboratively with clients, consultants, specialist subcontractors, and internal teams to ensure design excellence, programme certainty, and buildability—while embedding health and safety and digital innovation throughout. You will play a key part in ensuring information flows smoothly between the company, subcontractors, consultants, and the client — contributing to the delivery of high-quality, well-coordinated projects

This is a full time, permanent role 40 hours over 5 days per week. ( 1 day working from home)

Duties of the Role:

The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership, a robust understanding of delivering in a main contracting environment, and the ability to work collaboratively with key project stakeholders. A relentless focus on safe delivery, programme certainty, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the management of the design process across one or more projects.
• Coordinate the full design team including consultants and design-and-build subcontractors.
• Manage the design programme, RFIs, change control and document control processes.
• Ensure designs are compliant with Building Regulations, planning conditions, CDM, and other statutory requirements.
• Drive Safety in Design (SiD) and embed buildability and health & safety risk mitigation.
• Oversee BIM coordination, clash detection reviews, and digital model audits.
• Support tendering, value engineering and pre-construction activities.
• Maintain a high level of technical and commercial awareness in all design decision-making.
• Engage in client meetings and lead proactive design-based communication.
• Participate in lessons learned and best practice forums to enhance our delivery model.
• Mentor junior design team members and actively support CPD development.

Key Skills & Experience required:

• Proven experience in a design management role within a main contracting environment.
• Strong technical design background with a degree (or equivalent) in a construction-related discipline.
• Solid understanding of current regulations (Building Safety Act, CDM, Building Regs, etc.).
• Experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing specialist subcontractors.
• Skilled in BIM processes and using platforms such as Viewpoint 4P.
• Proactive, organised, and a confident communicator.
• Capable of managing a range of project types, tight deadlines, and complex design scopes.
• Department for Education framework experience essential.

In return we offer:

• 25 days holiday per year, plus 8 bank holidays and Christmas Eve
• Entry into the Group Personal Pension Scheme
• Private Health Insurance (subject to a qualifying period)
• Eye care voucher scheme
• Training & Development Opportunities
• Salary : £65k +packges including car allownce