Design Manager - Swindon/Wiltshire

Fawkes & Reece London; Swindon; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece London is seeking an ambitious/experienced Design Manager for the Swindon office to lead the design process on two education projects in Wiltshire.

You will report to the Senior Design Manager and work closely with the Project Manager, managing design development, consultant teams, buildability and procurement inputs to drive the preconstruction and on-site phases to successful completion.

Qualifications

• Experience leading design development for construction projects.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with clients and consultants.
• Ability to chair design team meetings and manage multiple stakeholders.
• Understanding of buildability, procurement lead times and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage design development for projects and ensure timely delivery.
• Appoint and manage consultant design team and sub-contractor design teams.
• Chair regular design team meetings and liaise with clients and stakeholders.
• Review information for buildability and ensure compliance with budgets and regulations.
• Identify value engineering opportunities and resolve issues proactively.
• Ensure smooth delivery of detailed design information through preconstruction and construction phases.

Skills

Design management

Stakeholder liaison

Project planning

Negotiation

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Engineering/Construction background

Job description

Ambitious/experienced Design Manager required by the Swindon office of this busy Southern Regional contractor to take the lead and manage the design process for 2 education projects in the Wiltshire area.

One of these is a new build SEND school currently in PCSA for design development for a further 30+ weeks, then construction is due to commence on site in the new year. This school will feature a cross laminated timber (CLT) frame, so some prior experience of working with this material would be advantageous although support will be available from colleagues with relevant experience already within the business.

The other scheme is a new build single storey PE block constructed within the grounds of an existing school. This scheme is also currently in PCSA and due to commence later this year/early next.

Reporting to the Senior Design Manager and working closely with the relevant Project Manager, you will manage the design development and input to the buildability aspects of schemes through the rest of the second stage preconstruction phase and throughout the construction phase on site.

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 stakeholder, trusts and end users
• Engagement with and managing specialist sub-contractor design teams;
• Agreement of information required schedule; Ensuring key dates 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 the busy Regional office of a larger main contractor group with several other offices across the South of England.

They have experience and a proven track record in the delivery of new build and refurbishment schemes in retirement living, primary school education, private education, healthcare, leisure, commercial offices, local authority, etc in the Wiltshire, Gloucester, Hampshire areas.

Turnover is circa 60m for the office which is located in Swindon with easy access to the M4.

There is a very good pipeline of work for the next 2 years secured on a mixture of regional frameworks, competitive tenders and negotiated work with repeat clients.

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 negotiations 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.