Design Manager - Dfe Framework Projects - Essex/Ipswich

Fawkes & Reece London; Colchester; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece, a long-established regional main contractor, is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead design across DfE education projects in Essex and the Ipswich/Suffolk area, from pre-construction through delivery. You will coordinate consultants, architects, engineers and specialist subcontractors to ensure design alignment with programme and quality standards.

The role focuses on education projects including new-build schools, extensions and refurbishments, with a strong pipeline

Qualifications

• Experienced Design Manager or Architect with a background working for a main contractor and a strong understanding of the design and technical delivery process.
• Experience on DfE / Department for Education projects is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Managing the design process across DfE education projects
• Coordinating consultants, architects, engineers and specialist subcontractors
• Reviewing and managing design information and technical submissions
• Leading design coordination meetings
• Managing design programmes and ensuring key deliverables are achieved
• Supporting value engineering and buildability reviews
• Identifying and resolving design issues throughout the project lifecycle
• Working closely with the commercial and construction teams
• Ensuring projects are delivered in accordance with the required quality, programme and technical standards

Skills

Design management

Architect knowledge

Main contractor background

Technical delivery

Job description

Design Manager - DfE Education Projects

Location: Essex / Ipswich

Salary: Up to £75,000 DoE

Sector: Education / DfE

Role: Design Manager

Fawkes & Reece are proud to be working exclusively with a long-established regional main contractor with over 100 years of experience delivering high-quality construction projects across the East of England.

The business has a particularly strong track record within the education sector, delivering new-build schools, extensions, refurbishments, SEND facilities and further education projects across the region.

Following continued growth within their education division and a strong pipeline of work, they are looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to join their team, working across DfE-funded education projects in Essex and the wider Ipswich/Suffolk area.

The contractor has recently secured a place on the Department for Education's £15.4bn Construction Framework 2025, including the East of England lot, providing a strong pipeline of future education projects.

The Role

As Design Manager, you will take responsibility for managing the design process from pre-construction through to delivery, working closely with the project team, consultants, subcontractors and client.

Typical responsibilities will include:

• Managing the design process across DfE education projects
• Coordinating consultants, architects, engineers and specialist subcontractors
• Reviewing and managing design information and technical submissions
• Leading design coordination meetings
• Managing design programmes and ensuring key deliverables are achieved
• Supporting value engineering and buildability reviews
• Identifying and resolving design issues throughout the project lifecycle
• Working closely with the commercial and construction teams
• Ensuring projects are delivered in accordance with the required quality, programme and technical standards

The Projects

The role will focus predominantly on education projects, including new-build schools, extensions and refurbishment works.

The contractor has an established track record delivering projects within live educational environments, including primary and secondary schools, specialist SEND facilities and further education buildings.

About You

The ideal candidate will be an experienced Design Manager or Architect with a background working for a main contractor and a strong understanding of the design and technical delivery process.

Experience across the education sector is highly desirable, particularly candidates who have worked on:

• DfE / Department for Education projects
• Schools and academies
• SEND / SEN facilities
• Education frameworks
• Public-sector projectsCandidates with strong main contracting experience in other sectors may also be considered where they can demonstrate strong technical and design management capability