Design Manager / Senior Design Manager

People Group Limited; Chilton; Hybrid; GBP 83,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

People Group Limited is seeking a capable Design Manager to lead the education project in the Sudbury/Suffolk area, aiming for stage 5 completion and smooth handover. The role sits on a DfE-funded school refurbishment, with the incumbent coordinating internal teams and external consultants to deliver on time.

The successful candidate will manage Design Management Plans, maintain strict compliance with BB101 and other standards, and drive value engineering while coordinating stakeholders and the

Qualifications

• Experience delivering education facilities, preferably DfE standards.
• Ability to coordinate external design teams and consultants.
• Knowledge of BB101 acoustics and building ventilation standards.
• Strong design management and risk-control capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain project-specific Design Management Plans.
• Coordinate external design teams, architects and engineers.
• Ensure compliance with education layouts, safety regs and standards.
• Review drawings to maximize buildability and apply value engineering.
• Chair design team meetings and liaise with client and stakeholders.
• Maintain risk registers and run mitigation workshops.
• Track design programmes against milestones and align with cost plans.
• Oversee RFI process, approvals and document distribution.
• Coordinate technical handover, including H&S files and O&M manuals.

Skills

Design management

Stakeholder coordination

RFI management

Cost control

Buildability assessment

Job description

Fantastic Design Manager opportunity to join a Project and see this through to completion based in the Sudbury / Suffolk area, immediate start!

A Design Manager is required to join a main contractor, and deliver for a Department for Education (DfE) client, the building is a secondary school academy and specialist performing arts college, with the particular focus being a sports block, completing the swimming pool, gymnasium, changing rooms and other areas within the block. The project is already underway and a competent, confident and capable Design Manager is required to see this through and deliver stage 5 construction completion including handover, as well as handover checklists, closing out planning ensuring school or educational buildings meet strict government standards, budgets, and timelines. The design manager will act as the bridge between the client's output specifications, external consultants, and the construction team, DfE experience is ideal but not essential.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Design Management Plans (DMPs)Develop, implement, and maintain project-specific DMPs that align with company procedures and DfE standards.
• Consultant Coordination: Appoint, manage, and coordinate external design teams, architects, and specialist engineering consultants.
• Compliance and Standards: Ensure all educational layouts, environmental conditions (such as BB101 acoustic and ventilation standards), and building safety regulations are strictly met.
• Buildability and Value Engineering: Review technical drawings and specifications to maximize buildability, spot design clashes early, and identify cost-effective value engineering options.
• Stakeholder Communication: Chair design team meetings and act as the primary link between the DfE/school stakeholders, commercial teams, and site construction crews.
• Design Risk Management: Maintain project risk registers and lead regular workshops to mitigate technical, financial, and regulatory risks.
• Programme and Cost Control: Track detailed design programmes against key milestones while keeping the design aligned with the project's commercial cost plan.
• RFI and Document Control: Oversee the Request for Information (RFI) process, technical approvals, and information distribution.
• Handover and Closeout: Coordinate technical handover documentation, including Health & Safety files and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) manuals - stage 5

Key Information:

• £ day rate
• Project run until summer 2028
• Immediate start
• Interview to be carried out via teams initially
• DFE experience is ideal however not essential
• Hybrid role - site based 3-4 days per week

Please reach out to me directly to find out more, email me at (url removed) or call me directly on (phone number removed)