Design Manager - Oxford

Fawkes and Reece; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes and Reece is seeking an ambitious Design Manager for its Oxford office to lead the design process across a varied refurbishment and new-build pipeline, including high-end works for Oxford University.

You will oversee design development from pre-construction through delivery, coordinating consultants, managing buildability, and ensuring key dates and planning requirements are met. A strong technical/commercial background is essential for success.

Qualifications

• Excellent technical and commercial knowledge of construction methods and procurement lead times.
• Experience delivering design coordination and management on major projects.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with clients and consultants.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage design development for projects.
• Appoint and manage consultant design teams.
• Chair design team meetings and liaise with clients and stakeholders.
• Engage with specialist sub-contract design teams and manage information schedules.
• Ensure planning permissions and planning conditions are discharged.
• Review constructability and compliance with budgets and regulations.
• Identify value engineering opportunities and resolve issues promptly.
• Ensure timely delivery of detailed design information for procurement and construction.

Skills

Design management

Project coordination

Stakeholder liaison

Planning

Problem solving

Education

Engineering/Construction delivery background

Architectural background

Job description

Ambitious/experienced Design Manager required by the Oxford office of this busy Southern Regional contractor to take the lead and manage the design process across a varied pipeline of projects in and around Oxford.

The workload includes regular high-end refurbishment projects for Oxford University, including works within listed buildings, alongside several live and upcoming schemes.

Current projects include a £3.5m student accommodation scheme at St John's College, due to commence on site later this month, a £1m children's home refurbishment in Oxford city centre which is currently on site, and a £2m town centre refurbishment and fire suppression scheme in Banbury, due to commence next month.

You will manage projects from preconstruction through to delivery, working closely with the relevant Project Managers and wider project teams to manage design development and buildability throughout the preconstruction and construction phases.

Duties will include:

• Management of the design development for projects;
• Appointment and management of consultant design team;
• Chairing regular design team meetings;
• Regular liaison with clients and stakeholders;
• Engagement with and managing specialist sub-contractor design teams;
• Agreement of information required schedule; ensuring key dates are achieved;
• Dealing with local authorities to achieve planning permissions / discharge planning conditions;
• Review of construction design information for buildability, compliance with contractors proposals, employers requirements, budget, current building legislation, Building Safety Regulations, etc;
• Identifying opportunities for effective value engineering where appropriate;
• Proactive issue resolution;
• Overall managing the smooth and timely delivery of detailed design information for procurement and construction throughout the preconstruction and build process.

About the Company/Client/Project:

This opportunity is with the busy Oxford office of a larger main contractor group with several other offices across the South of England.

The Oxford office has a turnover of circa £65m and a varied pipeline of refurbishment and new build work, including regular projects for Oxford University alongside schemes across Oxford and the surrounding area.

The business has recently strengthened the Oxford operation with a new senior team, including a new Head of Construction and Regional Lead, providing an opportunity to join the office as it continues to develop.

This business has a strong commitment to and focus on delivering quality buildings for clients, making the right decisions at each stage of the process and building positive relationships with clients, consultants and supply chain.

Requirements including certificates and qualifications:

Either from an Engineering/Construction delivery or Architectural background, you will possess excellent technical and commercial knowledge, a keen understanding of construction methodology, materials and systems, procurement lead in times, etc.

You will have excellent communication and negotiation skills, strong planning and problem solving ability, initiative and a positive approach. In terms of character, you will be a hard-working, positive and proactive individual able to work well within a team dynamic.

You will ideally have a proven track record of successful project delivery with a recognised Main Contractor in a Design Coordination / Design Management role.

High standards, attention to detail and the drive to deliver on programme, specification and budget will be very well rewarded with excellent salary, benefits, promotional and development prospects.