Design manager

Construction, Property and Engineering; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad CPE is seeking an experienced Design Management Lead to head the Engineering Design Management Team on a major water project in Maidstone. You will coordinate design consultants, manage safety, risk, and budget delivery, and work with Design Partners, Project Managers and the Commercial Team to ensure programme progress.

The role requires strong CDM 2015, BIM, and CDE knowledge, excellent communication, and a proven track record in UK Water industry design management; you’ll lead design

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or construction management qualification.
• Extensive UK water industry design management experience.
• Strong knowledge of CDM 2015 and BIM standards.
• Experience with budgets, change control and risk management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-disciplinary design teams and coordinate outputs with programme.
• Apply CDM 2015 and safety principles as Principal Designer.
• Manage design change with commercial teams to meet cost allowances.
• Drive deliverables to meet governance milestones.
• Implement BIM/digital execution, DfMA, and carbon reduction strategies.
• Provide buildability reviews and value engineering.
• Lead design meetings and report on cost and schedule.

Skills

Design management

CDM 2015

BIM / Digital execution

Change management

Communication

Budget control

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

BIM standards

CDEs

Job description

Job Title: Design Management Lead

Location: Maidstone, Kent

Sector: Civil Engineering & Infrastructure (Water)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Design Management Lead (DML) to lead the Engineering Design Management Team on a major, high-value water project based in Maidstone as part of a key regional water framework.

In this role, you will work directly alongside Design Partners, Project Managers, and the Commercial Team to oversee design consultants, ensuring technical excellence, robust risk management, and delivery against project specifications and target budgets. You will play a crucial part in managing change, driving programme progress, and upholding the highest standards of Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE).

Key Responsibilities

• Design Coordination: Lead and manage multi-disciplinary design teams, aligning outputs with the project programme, conducting technical reviews, and managing RFIs, TQs, and waivers.

• CDM & Safety: Apply CDM 2015 regulations and principles of prevention as Principal Designer.

• Commercial & Change Management: Manage design change control in conjunction with commercial teams to ensure solutions remain within target cost allowances.

• Governance & Milestones: Drive design deliverables to meet both internal and client governance milestones.

• Innovation & Best Practice: Implement BIM/Digital execution, DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly), carbon reduction strategies, and supply chain engagement.

• Value Engineering & Buildability: Support project teams with buildability reviews, value engineering, and the creation of integrated project programmes.

• Leadership & Reporting: Lead design meetings, track design performance (Cost and Schedule), and implement the overall design management strategy for the framework.

Requirements & Person Specification

• Education: Degree in Engineering, Design, or Construction Management.

• Industry Experience: Extensive experience in Design Management within the UK Water Industry.

• Technical Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations, 2D/3D environments, BIM standards, and Common Data Environments (CDEs).

• Commercial Acumen: Solid commercial and contractual awareness with a strong track record of managing design budgets and change control.

• Key Skills: Excellent communication, time management, and stakeholder management capabilities.

• Professional Membership: Professional membership with a relevant body (e.g., ICE, CIWEM, CIBSE) is desirable.

For more information in regards to the role please contact Daniel Stepney by email on or over the phone on 07441919706.

Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.