Design Manager

Heaney Bowes; Wantage; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction contractor in the Oxfordshire region seeks a Design Manager to enhance their projects valued between £10M-£60M. The ideal candidate will have a proven background in design management, strong leadership skills, and relevant qualifications in Construction Management or Design. Benefits include a competitive salary, healthcare, and a bonus scheme. This role promises a supportive environment for career advancement.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Car or car allowance

Healthcare cover

Pension scheme

Bonus scheme

25 days holiday (increasing with service)

Qualifications

• Proven background as a Design Coordinator or Design Manager on Design & Build projects (£10M+).
• Able to inspire and guide design teams effectively.
• Thorough understanding of design and risk management processes.

Responsibilities

• Get involved at pre-construction stage offering value engineering solutions.
• Lead design teams through RIBA stages 4 and 5.
• Coordinate design meetings with site teams.

Skills

Leadership skills

Design management

Risk management

Commercial awareness

Education

HNC/HND/BA or BSc in Construction Management, Design, Architecture, or related

Job description

Overview

Design Manager - Oxfordshire Region

We are delighted to be supporting a highly successful main contractor in welcoming a new Design Manager to their growing team. If you enjoy collaboration, thrive in a supportive environment, and take pride in delivering projects that go above and beyond client expectations, this could be the perfect next step in your career. This is an exciting opportunity to join an established contractor with a fantastic track record, delivering Design & Build projects valued between £10M-£60M across Oxfordshire. You'll be part of a talented, friendly team who work closely together to drive design programmes and bring projects to life.

Responsibilities

• Getting involved at pre-construction stage, offering value engineering solutions and supporting the pre-construction lead.
• Leading design teams through RIBA stages 4 and 5, from outline to detailed design.
• Coordinating design meetings with site teams and ensuring smooth information flow.
• Producing cost-effective designs that meet project timelines and construction deadlines.
• Applying your commercial awareness to deliver value to clients and strengthen margins.
• Managing design programmes and controls to support procurement and construction teams.
• Bringing your experience across a range of sectors - ideally including education and commercial.

Qualifications

• A proven background as a Design Coordinator or Design Manager on Design & Build projects (£10M+).
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and guide design teams.
• A thorough understanding of design and risk management processes.
• Relevant qualifications (HNC/HND/BA or BSc in Construction Management, Design, Architecture, or related).
• A full UK driving licence.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (based on experience)
• Car or car allowance
• Healthcare cover
• Pension scheme
• Bonus scheme
• 25 days holiday (increasing with service)

This role offers not just a job, but a genuine career move within a supportive, ambitious contractor where your contribution will be valued. Interviews are taking place soon, so if this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we'd love to hear from you.