Head of Design

Citu Group; Leeds; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company dedicated to creating impactful low-carbon spaces as the Head of Design. This role is pivotal in leading a talented design team, fostering innovation, and ensuring excellence in design delivery. You will be at the forefront of strategic planning, guiding the team to achieve ambitious goals and maintaining high standards in all projects. Your leadership will not only shape the team's culture but also drive the success of Citu's mission to deliver quality, sustainable homes. If you are passionate about design and sustainability, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading design teams and delivering design excellence.
• Strong strategic planning and technical decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a high-performance design team to achieve impactful results.
• Ensure zero defects in design and specification across all projects.

Skills

Team management

Design excellence

Strategic planning

Technical expertise

Design innovation

Job description

Citu has a bold, committed purpose; to create the most impactful places on the planet. To deliver low carbon places we have to be bold in our thinking, creative in our design and ensure the delivery of top quality, low-carbon homes and spaces. We are looking for an experienced Head of Design to join our team.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Team management, leading, coaching and mentoring.
2. Delivery of design excellence.
3. Long term strategic planning.
4. Technical expertise and decision making.
5. Lead design innovation.
6. Integrate with our MMC and build teams.

OUTCOME 1: People and Culture

Lead a team of A and B players with rigorous, high-performance principles that deliver aligned and valuable results. The whole team loves being part of Citu Design and what it stands for, as a direct result of the HoCD leadership style.

OUTCOME 2: Strategic

Citu Design wins team of the year in 2025/26 with a compelling and bold long-term strategic plan that aligns to Citu’s plans and hairy-audacious ambitions.

OUTCOME 3: Operations

Citu Design is operating at a 8/10 consistently, aligning without failure to the 2-year delivery program and annual profit-led budget.

OUTCOME 4: Quality

There were zero defects as a result of design or specification choices across Citu’s projects and products.

OUTCOME 5: Cost

All Stage 3 design pack aligned to the development project cost plans as a result of a ‘less but better’ approach to design, specification and an immersive, and early collaboration with Development and Commercial teams in Citu.

OUTCOME 6: Link to MMC and Build

Communicated the ‘WHY’ and ‘HOW’ to MMC and build teams which ensured that design is understood and followed with RFIs from site reduced by 50% as a result.

OUTCOME 7: Technical

Be the steward and expert on our Citu Home, including all standards, the timber-frame system, performance and compliance factors.