Design Manager

Fawkes & Reece London; Stoke Gifford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece London is seeking an ambitious Design Manager to lead design development for a key Bath-based extra care residential scheme, with initial base in the Bristol office during preconstruction and on-site presence during main works.

You will report to the Regional Design Manager and oversee two schemes at a time, chair design team meetings, engage consultants, liaise with the client and authorities, and ensure timely, compliant information delivery.

Qualifications

• Engineering/Construction delivery or Architectural background with strong technical and commercial knowledge.
• Excellent communication and negotiations skills; strong planning and problem solving ability.
• Driven, positive and ambitious with ability to work in a small team.

Responsibilities

• Manage design development for schemes from preconstruction through delivery on site.
• Chair regular design team meetings and engage consultant design teams.
• Liaise with client and statutory bodies; ensure information required is scheduled and key dates are met.
• Review construction design information for buildability, compliance and budget; seek value engineering where appropriate.
• Identify and manage specialist sub-contractor design teams; ensure smooth delivery of detailed design information.

Skills

Design management

Education

Engineering/Construction delivery or Architectural background

Job description

About this Role:

Ambitious/experienced Design Manager required by the Bristol office of this busy Tier 2 main contractor to work on a key new build extra care residential scheme in Bath.

The scheme is a circa 15m new build with a complex sub-structure and retaining features due to the hillside location, plus additional challenges in terms of ecology and logistics. Currently in PCSA for the rest of the year, the scheme has planning and momentum so is due to start in early 2027.

Once out of the ground, the scheme will comprise multiple single and two storey modern extra care houses finished externally with Bath stone and a central garden and water feature.

Reporting to the Regional Design Manager, you will work closely with the project team through the latter stages of the PCSA to agree design, methodology, cost plan then throughout construction phase.

Based in the Bristol office for preconstruction phase, then working between office and site once main works are underway, with an expectation of 2-3 days on site with the team as required.

A key flagship scheme for the contractor and BANES Council, you will focus initially on this scheme.

Typically you will be responsible for design development across two schemes at a time from preconstruction phase and through delivery on site

Reporting to the Regional Design Manager and working with preconstruction and project delivery teams, you will be responsible for:

• Management of the design development for your schemes;
• Chairing regular design team meetings;
• Engagement and management of consultant design teams;
• Regular liaison with client and statutory bodies;
• Agreement of information required schedule; Ensuring key dates achieved;
• Review of construction design information for buildability, compliance with contractors proposals, employers requirements, budget, current building safety regulations, etc;
• Identifying opportunities for value engineering opportunities where appropriate;
• Proactive issue resolution;
• Managing specialist sub-contractor design teams;
• Overall managing the smooth and timely delivery of detailed design information for procurement and construction throughout the build process.

About the Company:

The company is a busy Tier 2 main contractor with experience and a proven track record in the delivery of schemes ranging 8m to 20m in value across the patch in the following sectors - private and local authority schools, care and retirement homes, colleges, student accommodation, offices, leisure, etc.

Turnover is circa 35m for the office, with a regional base close to the M4 / M5.

Requirements including certificates and qualifications:

Either from an Engineering/Construction delivery or Architectural background, you will possess excellent technical and commercial knowledge, a keen understanding of construction methodology, materials and systems, procurement lead in times, building regulations, etc.

You will have excellent communication and negotiations skills, strong planning and problem solving ability, initiative and a positive approach. In terms of character, you will be a driven, positive and ambitious individual able to work well within a small team dynamic.

You will ideally have a proven track record of successful project delivery with a main contractor in a Design Management / Coordinator role.

High standards, attention to detail and the drive to deliver on programme, specification and budget will be very well rewarded with excellent salary, benefits, promotional and development prospects.

Candidates must be able to prove their eligibility to work in the UK