Design Manager

Skilled Careers Ltd; Lewes; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Pension (8% matched)

Medical cover

Life assurance

26 days holiday

Job summary

Skilled Careers Ltd. is seeking a Design Manager to lead design coordination on education-sector projects in Sussex. You will drive technically compliant, cost-efficient design packages during pre-construction and delivery, and manage design information release.

Working closely with clients, consultants and subcontractors, you will coordinate BIM/3D models (Revit), ensure Building Regulations compliance, and guide design workshops to add value across the project. A competitive package awaits.

Qualifications

• Design Manager with education sector experience and frameworks knowledge.
• Ability to liaise with clients, consultants and site teams.
• Experience coordinating design teams and BIM workflows.

Responsibilities

• Manage design process to deliver technically compliant, cost-efficient design packages.
• Engage and manage digital and sustainability requirements of the project.
• Liaise with subcontractors, design team members and external consultants for compliant design information.
• Manage design information release, production and approval of drawings, chair client meetings and design workshops.
• Identify and mitigate risks, ensure compliance with statutory, legal and planning requirements.
• Demonstrate technical competence across Arch, Structures and MEPH.
• Assist with selecting subcontractors for Contractor Design Portions and working drawings.
• Ensure design programme informs TIDP and MIDP, and provide regular reporting.

Skills

Design management

Education sector experience

BIM coordination

Communication

Project governance

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

BIM Level 2

Job description

• Position: Design Manager (project based)
• Office location: Brighton, Sussex
• Salary/Package: £ competitive + car allowance and comprehensive package
• Target start date: September 2026

The company:

A multi-disciplinary Tier 1 main contractor delivering new build and refurbishment schemes across a wide range of sectors of the construction industry (building, civil engineering and facilities management).

The Design Manager role:

• You will be required to manage the design process to deliver technically compliant, cost-efficient and coordinated design packages, during both the pre-construction and project delivery stages.
• Engage and manage the digital and sustainability requirements of the project.
• Liaise with subcontractors, design team members and external consultants, creating a collaborative environment to deliver design information that meets all the relevant requirements and conforms to Building Regulations.
• You will manage the design information release, production and approval of technical drawings, chair Client Engagement Meetings (CEM's) and design workshops, coordinate complex design packages, and validate design details, adding value to the construction process.
• Providing expert guidance and technical support, you will work closely with the client, Technical Advisors (TA's) and project teams to identify and mitigate risks, as well as ensure compliance with all statutory, legal, and planning requirements.
• Demonstrate level of technical competence across Arch, Structures and MEPH
• Assisting with the selection and scope of suitable subcontractors for Contractor Design Portions and working drawings.
• Ensure the design programme is developed and managed with all parties to inform the TIDP and MIDP.
• Regular reporting both internally and externally.

About you and the skills you possess:

• Design Manager experience specifically the education sector and working knowledge of frameworks.
• A collaborative approach that can gel with site operations teams as you will be an intrinsic part of the project team.
• Able to engage and motivate and with confidence to make decisions when required.
• An understanding of both the design and construction processes within the education sector, and the interface between their representatives them with an understanding of Revit and AutoCAD and BIM Level 2 requirements.
• Driver of improvements and benefits through digital construction.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Confident in reviewing designs for technical completeness and buildability
• Develop Consultant scopes of service and the Design Responsibility Matrix, Develop VE proposals with wider team, Lead design programme.
• An understanding of EDMS.

Why apply for this role:

This is a rare opportunity to join a great business that delivers major projects in the Sussex region. For undertaking this role you will receive:

• A very competitive salary and comprehensive package (car or allowance, 8% matched pension, medical cover, life assurance and 26 days holiday amongst a host of other benefits).
• Work on one of Sussex's largest schemes for a number of years.
• Ongoing professional development
• The chance to work within a business where you can make an impact and your talents can be demonstrated.

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