Design Manager

Walker & Sloan; West of England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Walker & Sloan is seeking a Design Manager to join our Bristol-based regional main contractor, driving the design process across multiple building projects.

You’ll coordinate consultants, subcontractors and delivery teams to develop coordinated, practical design solutions, taking ownership and aligning design with cost and programme requirements. This role emphasizes collaboration on site and pre-construction delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in design management or coordination within a main contracting environment.
• Ability to review architectural, structural and building services information.
• Experience across varied building projects, including new build or refurbishment.
• Strong communication and deadline management with consultants and subcontractors.
• Understanding of design-build processes and the design–cost–programme relationship.
• Relevant construction, architecture or engineering qualification beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Oversee design development through pre-construction and delivery, ensuring information is coordinated and issued on programme.
• Lead design meetings and monitor consultant progress; resolve gaps between disciplines.
• Review proposals for buildability, compliance and alignment with client requirements; assess cost and programme implications.
• Coordinate subcontractor design submissions during construction and support site teams with technical queries.
• Ensure required design information is available for handover.

Skills

Design management

Design coordination

Communication

Buildability review

Cost awareness

Programme awareness

Leadership

Education

Construction/Architecture/Engineering qualification

Job description

Design Manager

Location: Bristol

Sector: Main Contracting

Salary: Up to £75,000, dependent on experience + package

The Opportunity

Walker & Sloan is recruiting a Design Manager to join an established regional main contractor in Bristol.

You’ll manage the design process across building projects, bringing consultants, specialist subcontractors and delivery teams together to develop coordinated, practical design solutions. This would suit you if you enjoy taking ownership and working closely with the people delivering projects on site.

Role Overview

You’ll oversee design development through pre-construction and delivery, ensuring information is coordinated, reviewed and issued in line with the project programme.

Working with project teams, you’ll establish design information requirements, monitor consultant progress and lead design meetings. You’ll identify gaps between disciplines, resolve queries and make sure outstanding actions are followed through.

You’ll review proposals for buildability, compliance and alignment with the client’s requirements, working alongside commercial colleagues to assess the cost and programme implications of design decisions.

During construction, you’ll coordinate subcontractor design submissions, manage changes and support site teams with technical queries. You’ll also help ensure the required design information is available for handover.

About You

You’ll have experience in design management or coordination within a main contracting environment. You may be an established Design Manager or an experienced Design Coordinator ready to take on greater responsibility.

You’ll understand the design and build process and be confident reviewing architectural, structural and building services information. Experience on varied building projects, including new build or refurbishment, would be valuable.

You’ll be able to challenge proposals constructively, communicate clearly and keep consultants and subcontractors focused on agreed deadlines. A practical understanding of construction sequencing and the relationship between design, cost and programme will be essential.

A relevant construction, architecture or engineering qualification would be beneficial.

Company Profile

You’ll be joining an established Bristol-based regional main contractor delivering new build and refurbishment projects. You’ll work closely with pre-construction, commercial and operational colleagues to support projects from early design development through to completion.

What’s in It for You?

• Salary of up to £75,000, dependent on experience, plus package.
• A varied workload across building projects.
• Ownership of the design process and a direct influence on project delivery.
• Close collaboration with commercial and construction teams.

About Walker & Sloan

Walker & Sloan is a B Corp certified recruitment consultancy connecting construction professionals with businesses across the UK