Design Manager

L.J.B & Co. Construction Recruitment; Leeds; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

L.J.B & Co. Construction Recruitment is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design delivery on complex data centre projects, based near Leeds.

The role requires an electrical engineering background, strong BIM coordination, and experience managing design teams through all project phases.

Permanent, full-time position with a competitive salary in the £85k–£95k range.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering is required.
• 5–7 years' minimum experience in data centre or large-scale industrial construction projects.
• Proven experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams.
• Experience managing design delivery across all project phases, including design fees, time and cost.
• Demonstrable experience managing engineers, design teams and direct reports.
• Experience working within a BIM environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the design delivery schedule with client, PM, design team and consultants.
• Define scopes of work, deliverables and contract documentation for each discipline.
• Coordinate consultant procurement from tender to appointment.
• Negotiate consultant scopes, deliverables, fees and commercial terms.
• Track design issues, changes, costs and deliverables across teams.
• Allocate and manage design workloads across engineers, designers and external consultants.
• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination and resolve technical interfaces.
• Review design documentation for accuracy, quality and compliance.
• Manage design document control and maintain clear records of deliverables.
• Monitor design progress against milestones and apply recovery strategies.

Skills

Planning skills

Programming skills

Reporting skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

BIM software

Job description

Design Manager - Data Centre Construction

Location: Ferrybridge, Leeds, UK

Salary: £85,000-£95,000

Sector: Data Centre / Mission-Critical Construction

Employment: Permanent

The Opportunity

An opportunity is available for an experienced Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design delivery on complex construction projects in London.

This role is suited to a design professional with an electrical engineering background and experience managing design teams across data centre, pharmaceutical, semiconductor or large-scale industrial projects.

You will oversee design coordination, consultant appointments, deliverables, programme milestones and design costs, ensuring the project team delivers accurate, coordinated designs on schedule and to the required quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the design delivery schedule in collaboration with the client, Project Manager, design team and consultants.


• Define scopes of work, design deliverables and contract documentation for each discipline.


• Coordinate consultant procurement, from initial tender enquiry through to appointment.


• Negotiate consultant scopes, deliverables, fees and commercial terms.


• Track design issues, changes, costs and deliverables across internal and external teams.


• Allocate and manage design workloads across engineers, designers and external consultants.


• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination and resolve technical interfaces.


• Review design documentation to ensure accuracy, quality and compliance with project requirements.


• Manage design document control and maintain clear records of design deliverables.


• Monitor design progress against programme milestones and implement recovery strategies where required.


• Lead and develop design teams, including engineers and direct reports.


• Coordinate design meetings and identify opportunities to optimise designs and minimise rework.


• Support planning, programming, reporting and departmental strategic initiatives.


• Liaise with clients, consultants, architects, insurers and other project stakeholders.


• Work within a BIM environment to support coordinated design delivery.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering; an electrical engineering background is preferred.


• Five to seven years' minimum experience in data centre, pharmaceutical, semiconductor or large-scale industrial construction projects.


• Proven experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams.


• Experience managing design delivery across all project phases, including design fees, time and cost.


• Demonstrable experience managing engineers, design teams and direct reports.


• Experience working within a BIM environment.


• Strong planning, programming and reporting skills.


• Excellent computer skills and attention to detail.


• Strong interpersonal, organisational and communication skills.


• Commitment to high standards of design quality and presentation.

Career Opportunity

• £80,000-£85,000 salary


• Permanent Design Manager position in London.


• Opportunity to lead multidisciplinary design delivery on complex, mission-critical projects.


• Responsibility for design programme, consultant coordination and commercial performance.


• Professional development and career progression within a major engineering and construction environment