Design Manager

Wates Group; Newport; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Wates Group is seeking a Design Manager to lead the design process on a major MoJ project on the Isle of Wight. You will coordinate external consultants and internal teams to deliver timely, compliant design outputs while ensuring MoJ standards and security requirements are met.

The role requires proven design management experience across disciplines, strong communication skills, and the ability to operate in a live project environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Design Manager within construction or the built environment.
• Strong understanding of the design process across multiple disciplines.
• Experience on secure or complex projects (MoJ or similar desirable).
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach.
• Ability to work effectively in a live project environment.

Responsibilities

• Managing the design process from pre-construction through delivery on site
• Coordinating external consultants and internal teams to ensure timely, compliant design outputs
• Ensuring compliance with MoJ standards, statutory regulations and security requirements
• Managing design risk, interfaces and changes
• Supporting collaboration between design, commercial, planning and construction teams
• Reviewing designs to improve buildability, quality, value and programme certainty
• Building effective working relationships with the client, consultants and supply chain

Skills

Design management

Multidisciplinary design

Communication

Live project environments

Organised / proactive

Job description

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Design Manager to join our team on a major Ministry of Justice (MoJ) project on the Isle of Wight. This is a significant and high‑profile scheme, offering the opportunity to work on a complex, secure environment and play a key role in shaping successful project outcomes.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing the design process from pre‑construction through delivery on site
• Coordinating external consultants and internal teams to ensure timely, compliant design outputs
• Ensuring compliance with MoJ standards, statutory regulations and security requirements
• Managing design risk, interfaces and changes
• Supporting collaboration between design, commercial, planning and construction teams
• Reviewing designs to improve buildability, quality, value and programme certainty
• Building effective working relationships with the client, consultants and supply chain

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience as a Design Manager within construction or the built environment
• Strong understanding of the design process across multiple disciplines
• Experience working on secure, regulated or complex projects (MoJ or similar environments desirable)
• Excellent communication and coordination skills
• A proactive, organised and solutions‑focused approach
• Ability to work effectively in a live project environment

Why Join Wates?

• Be part of a purpose‑led, family‑owned business with strong values
• Work on a challenging and meaningful MoJ project with long‑term impact
• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including support for project‑based working

Our Commitments

Wates is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role.

Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme.

Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at [e-mail]