Design Manager

Randstad Construction & Property; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Training and bespoke development

Job summary

Randstad CPE is seeking a Design Manager near Reading to join a Tier 1 contractor. You will lead design input from tender to site handover, coordinating with estimating, commercial, clients, consultants and subcontractors on schemes ranging from £10m+.

You will drive opportunities and mitigate risks, ensure CDM compliance, and manage RFIs and change processes with strong organisational discipline in a hybrid working environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with tier 1 contractors on large schemes.
• Experience on D&B projects and framework negotiations.
• Ability to identify opportunities and potential issues with project pathways.
• Attention to detail, organisational skills and strong work practices.

Responsibilities

• Involvement in tender and bid stages with estimating and commercial teams.
• Lead information flow between client, consultants, subcontractors and internal teams; take lead on framework schemes.
• Responsible for design management from tender through site handover, including coordination with PM and site teams.
• Manage RFIs, change control processes and CDM regulations through to handover and commissioning.

Skills

Design management

Tender/bid input

Leadership

CDM regulations

RFI management

Framework negotiations

Job description

We are working with a Tier 1 contractor based near Reading to recruit a Design Manager to join the team.

The company are a national brand with an excellent reputation in their chosen marketplace and have excellent long term relationships with clients, subcontractors and the wider supply chain and have a forward thinking approach to staff engagement and there are opportunities to grow and develop your career with them.

The regional office is based near Reading but the geographical area covers the M4 Corridor Reading and Oxford and they target work in the education, public sector, leisure and commercial marketplaces with a mix of negotiated and framework opportunities. Turnover for 2025 and 2026 has been secured and 2027/28 is almost there so they are now in a position to be highly selective about what type of work they look at.

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.

The role of design Manager includes early involvement at tender and bid stage, working with the estimating and commercial teams to carry out a detailed and forensic investigation into the scheme and work on the key packages to explore and identify both opportunities and potential issues with critical pathways, carry out ve exercises where needed and use your skills and expertise to create detailed input for the tender and bid packages. You will be responsible for the information flow between client, consultants, subcontractors and your own internal teams and take the lead on the framework schemes.

You will be responsible for taking the scheme from tender, bid including full detailed 2nd stage works, contract award and finally onto site for the construction phase. You will be responsible for management and implementation of the design on site with the project manager and site delivery teams and subcontractors and take responsibility for managing rfi's, change process, cdm regulations etc. through to handover, commissioning.

You will ideally have worked for a tier 1 or larger regional contractor on schemes above £10 million and have experience of both D&B projects and framework negotiations, be able to demonstrate excellent work practices, attention to detail, organisational skills as well as the ability to identify opportunities and potential issues.

They are looking for experienced Design Managers as well as senior staff as part of their controlled growth and development and now is a brilliant time to join the business. They offer a competitive salary and package, hybrid working options, full training and bespoke development packages and the opportunities for advancement are unlimited - they regularly recognise, reward and promote the best internal talent.

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.