Design Manager - DfE Framework Projects - Essex/Ipswich

Allscreens Nationwide Ltd; Colchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece are partnering with a long-established regional contractor to appoint a Design Manager for DfE-funded education projects across Essex and the Ipswich/Suffolk area.

The role focuses on managing the design process from pre-construction to delivery, coordinating consultants and internal teams to ensure quality, programme and technical standards are met on education schemes.

Qualifications

• Experience as an Architect with main contractor background.
• Experience on education sector projects (DfE/education frameworks) is desirable.
• Strong design delivery and technical capability across complex schemes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design process from pre-construction through delivery on DfE education projects.
• Coordinate consultants, architects, engineers and subcontractors.
• Review design information and manage technical submissions.

Skills

Architect

Design management

Coordination

Job description

Design Manager - DfE Framework Projects - Essex/Ipswich

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
• 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

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 projects

Candidates with strong main contracting experience in other sectors may also be considered where they can demonstrate strong technical and design management capability.

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust