Design Manager

Construction, Property and Engineering; Old Warren; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contractor firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join their team near Reading. The role includes managing tender stages, value engineering, and overseeing design during construction. Candidates should have experience with Tier 1 contractors and managing projects over £10 million. The company offers a competitive salary, hybrid working options, and opportunities for career advancement.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Hybrid working options

Bespoke development packages

Qualifications

• Experience with Tier 1 or larger contractors on projects over £10 million.
• Familiarity with Design & Build projects and framework negotiations.
• Ability to identify potential issues and manage information flow.

Responsibilities

• Involve early in tender and bid stages with estimating and commercial teams.
• Manage information flow between client, consultants, subcontractors, and teams.
• Oversee design management during construction and handover.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Value engineering

Job description

Overview

We are working with a Tier 1 contractor based near Reading to recruit a Design Manager to join the team. The company is a national brand with an excellent reputation in their marketplace and strong long‑term relationships with clients, subcontractors and the wider supply chain. They have a forward‑thinking approach to staff engagement and offer opportunities to grow and develop your career. The regional office is based near Reading and covers the M4 Corridor, Reading and Oxford, with work in education, public sector, leisure and commercial marketplaces on a mix of negotiated and framework opportunities. Turnover for 2025 and 2026 has been secured and 2027/28 is almost there, enabling selective consideration of the type of work pursued.

Current live projects include new build NHS and student schemes in Oxford, SEN schools, Life Sciences schemes, Office and local authority developments ranging from £25 to £90 million on JCT and NEC forms of contract.

Responsibilities

• Involve early in tender and bid stage, working with estimating and commercial teams to conduct detailed analysis and create input for tender and bid packages.
• Carry out value engineering where needed and identify opportunities and potential issues with critical pathways.
• Manage information flow between client, consultants, subcontractors and internal teams; lead on framework schemes.
• Take the scheme from tender and bid (including full detailed second stage works), through contract award and onto site for construction.
• Oversee design management on site with the project manager, site delivery teams and subcontractors; manage RFIs, change processes, CDM regulations, etc., through to handover and commissioning.

Qualifications / Experience

• Ideally have worked for a Tier 1 or larger regional contractor on schemes above £10 million.
• Experience of both Design & Build projects and framework negotiations.
• Demonstrable work practices, attention to detail, strong organisational skills and the ability to identify opportunities and potential issues.

Opportunity and Conditions

They are looking for experienced Design Managers as well as senior staff as part of controlled growth and development. They offer a competitive salary and package, hybrid working options, full training and bespoke development packages, with opportunities for advancement as they regularly recognise, reward and promote internal talent.

EEO Statement

Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments 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.