Design Manager (Construction)

Blue Octopus Recruitment Limited; Norwich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction recruitment firm is seeking a driven Design Manager based in Norwich. You will be responsible for managing consultant teams and ensuring successful project delivery in extra-care facilities or commercial construction. The ideal candidate should have a solid technical background, strong negotiation skills, and experience with modern management systems. The role includes a bonus based on performance and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Bonus entitlement based on performance KPIs

26 days holiday

Life Assurance

Pension

Private medical insurance

Access to discount portal

Cycle to Work scheme

Digital GP

Employee assistance programme

Sharesave scheme

Qualifications

• Experience delivering extra-care facility or Commercial construction projects.
• Solid technical background with a proactive approach to project delivery.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing external consultants and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Scope, appoint, coordinate, and manage consultant teams.
• Drive progress through planning, legal, statutory, and financial processes.
• Report on all stages of development and manage development expenses.

Skills

Project delivery

Negotiation skills

Risk management

Familiarity with modern management systems

Tools

Microsoft Project

ASTA

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Permanent - Full Time (37.5 hours per week). We are seeking a driven and enthusiastic individual to join our expanding regional team as a Design Manager, based in Norwich with regular travel to Harleston. This role requires a candidate with a solid technical background and a proactive mindset toward project delivery. Experience in delivering extra-care facility or Commercial construction projects is essential for success in this position. Reporting to the Regional Technical Director you will be responsible for ensuring the timely progression of schemes through all pre-construction stages, contract milestones, site start and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Scoping, appointing, coordinating, and managing the consultant teams. This includes setting up and chairing meetings to ensure programme requirements are met efficiently and effectively.
• Drive progress through the early stages of planning, legal, statutory and financial processes while actively managing risk and maintaining the financial viability of each scheme.
• Regular internal and external reporting on all stages of development, progress against programme milestones, and management of development expenses. Present updates to the executive team, stakeholders, and board as required.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of contracts and contract documentation, construction methods, and procurement strategies. Ensure knowledge of planning techniques, environmental legislation, and construction materials is kept current, as is a working knowledge of design principles and health & safety compliance.
• Negotiate effectively and manage external consultants and internal stakeholders across multiple disciplines. Use modern management systems and drive progress against key programme milestones.
• Utilize Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and project planning tools (Microsoft Project or ASTA) to manage timelines, reporting, and documentation.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Experience delivering extra-care facility or Commercial construction projects.
• Solid technical background with a proactive approach to project delivery.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing external consultants and internal stakeholders across multiple disciplines.
• Familiarity with modern management systems and ability to drive progress against programme milestones.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project planning tools (Microsoft Project or ASTA).

Benefits

• Bonus entitlement based on performance KPIs
• Holidays - 26 days
• Life Assurance
• Pension
• Private medical insurance
• Ability to purchase additional holiday
• Access to discount portal
• Cycle to Work scheme and the Lovell Way to EV (car salary sacrifice)
• Digital GP
• Employee assistance programme
• Sharesave scheme

About Lovell

As an Investors in People Gold award employer, Lovell is the UK’s leading provider of mixed tenure affordable homes and has a reputation for innovation and excellence in the delivery of high-quality housing development and regeneration projects. We are committed to enhancing the communities in which we work, building quality homes for real people and looking after our own people; developing talent is key to achieving this. Lovell is an equal opportunities employer who encourage and value diversity and inclusion within our teams. The Lovell culture is one that has been successful for many years. It is based on empowering colleagues to make decisions at a regional and local level, and to challenge the status quo whilst working as one to achieve our goals and make Lovell a great place to work for all.