Design Office Manager

Highbury Recruitment Limited; Norwich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and company pension

Career progression

Professional development and training

Collaborative, supportive working env

Job summary

Our client, a specialist construction business, seeks an experienced Design Office Manager to lead the design function, manage daily office activity, oversee drawing production and issue accurate technical information on programme.

You will have strong AutoCAD skills and experience in facades, architecture, engineering or building services, coordinating with project teams and site delivery to ensure timely, compliant design outputs.

Qualifications

• Advanced AutoCAD proficiency essential.
• Experience as Design Office Manager or similar role.
• Background in construction, facades, roofing, cladding, architecture or engineering.
• Strong drawing and technical detailing knowledge.
• Excellent organisation, coordination and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple live projects.

Responsibilities

• Design management: lead design office activity, drawing production, revisions and document control.
• Coordinate design programmes against project milestones.
• Manage consultants and specialist designers as required.
• Support planning, building control and technical submissions.

Skills

AutoCAD proficiency

Design Office Manager experience

Construction background

Drawing production and detailing

Project coordination

Organisational and communication

Driving licence

Education

HNC/HND or Degree in Construction/Arch Eng

Tools

Revit/BIM

AutoCAD

Job description

Design Office Manager

Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Reports to: Directors

About Our Client

Our client is a specialist construction business delivering building solutions, facades, airspace developments and technical consultancy across the UK. They provide services from feasibility and design through to project delivery for residential, commercial and public sector projects.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced, highly organised Design Office Manager to lead the design function, manage daily office activity, support project teams, oversee drawing production, and ensure accurate technical information is issued on programme.

The successful candidate will have strong AutoCAD skills and experience in construction, façade, architectural, engineering or building services sectors.

This key role links design, estimating, project management and site delivery teams.

Key Responsibilities

Design Management

• Manage design office activity, drawing production, revisions and document control.
• Coordinate design programmes against project milestones.
• Manage consultants, architects and specialist designers where required.
• Support planning, building control and technical submissions.

AutoCAD & Technical Design

• Produce and review detailed AutoCAD drawings.
• Ensure drawings meet regulations, standards and project specifications.
• Resolve technical design issues and maintain drawing standards.
• Support design solutions for construction, façade and building envelope projects.

Project Coordination

• Liaise with project, contracts and site teams.
• Attend design meetings and provide technical support.
• Monitor design progress, risks and deadlines.

Office & Team Management

• Lead and support the Design Office team.
• Allocate workloads and monitor performance.
• Improve processes, quality and efficiency.
• Maintain design records, documentation and project files.
• Assist with recruitment, training and development.

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• Advanced AutoCAD proficiency.
• Experience as a Design Office Manager, Senior CAD Technician, Design Coordinator or similar.
• Background in construction, facades, roofing, cladding, architecture or engineering.
• Strong construction drawing and technical detailing knowledge.
• Excellent organisation, project coordination and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple live projects.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Revit, BIM or other design package experience.
• Knowledge of façade systems, rainscreen cladding or building envelope construction.
• Understanding of Building Regulations and industry standards.
• Design team management experience.
• HNC/HND or Degree in Construction, Architectural Technology, Engineering or related discipline.

Personal Attributes

• Detail-oriented, quality focused and proactive.
• Solution driven with strong leadership skills.
• Commercially aware and able to work in a fast-paced project environment.
• Positive, collaborative and professional.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and company pension.
• Career progression within a growing construction group.
• Professional development and training.
• Collaborative, supportive working environment.