Design Manager

Wates Group; Newbury; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm in Newbury is seeking a Design Manager to focus on high-profile, technically complex projects. The role involves driving quality outcomes, collaborative design management, and enhancing buildability. Ideal candidates possess strong technical skills, are passionate about design, and aim for career progression within a supportive team environment. This opportunity offers a competitive salary, flexible working, and extensive corporate benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary & profit share scheme

Flexible working

Car Allowance / Company Car

Travel covered to sites

Private Medical

Pension with 8% employer contribution

Health and Wellness programme

26 days holidays + bank holidays

Learning and development opportunities

26 weeks fully paid maternity leave

12 weeks fully paid paternity leave

Qualifications

• Proven technical skills in design.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Experience with compliance and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Produce and manage design programmes and schedules.
• Support Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Ensure design compliance and identify key risks.

Skills

Technical design skills

Team collaboration

Innovative thinking

Job description

The Vacancy

Wates Construction are looking for a Design Manager to join ourteam focussing on high profile, technically complex projects across multiple sectors.

If you are passionate about design, working within a team environment and with proven technical skills looking for an opportunity to challenge the norm, bring fresh new ideas and elevate yourself within the industry then join us and help to create tomorrow together.

This is a great opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse, and supportive team.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Our Design Managers are a valuable part of our business, driving quality outcomes, enhancing buildability and fostering innovation. Design Managers work collaboratively with our industry specialists and in‑house technical experts to ensure that the design develops in accordance with the brief with a firm focus on added value, compliance, commercial viability, and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Work with all relevant parties, to produce and manage a realistic design programme and information required schedule to facilitate design, procurement and construction activities.
• Support the implementation of Continuous Improvement initiatives and innovation.
• Ensure the design has been reviewed and verified to achieve compliance and mitigate Health and Safety, design and buildability issues prior to construction and identify key risks and opportunities at each stage of the design and delivery process.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary & profit share scheme
• Flexible working
• Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role / Grade)
• Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates)
• Extensive corporate benefits including Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more…
• Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression.
• Industry leading family leave benefits: 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.

We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all of the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group.

As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family‑owned business means we understand and value long‑term relationships.

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offences. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre‑employment checks.

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family‑owned development, building and property maintenance companies. Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises :

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in, and treated with care.

We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.