Learning Design Lead

EDF Energy; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy company based in the United Kingdom is seeking a Head of Design. This senior leadership role focuses on providing strategic oversight across healthcare construction projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in healthcare design, an understanding of relevant standards, and the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams. This position offers a competitive salary and benefits package while allowing the opportunity to influence healthcare design strategies significantly.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Opportunity to shape healthcare design function

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in healthcare construction project design.
• Knowledge of HTM and HBN standards is essential.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary design teams.
• Strong understanding of cost, programme, and risk impacts.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and technical strategy for healthcare bids.
• Provide oversight of design delivery for multiple projects.
• Ensure compliance with NHS standards and Building Regulations.
• Support resolution of complex design and interface issues.
• Engage with NHS Trusts and clinical stakeholders.

Skills

Extensive experience leading design on healthcare construction projects

In‑depth knowledge of HTM and HBN standards

Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary design teams

Strong commercial awareness

Confident communicator

Solutions‑focused problem-solving

Job description

Head of Design

Location: Farringdon

Level: Senior Leadership / Head of Function

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Head of Design to provide strategic leadership across the full lifecycle of complex healthcare construction projects - from bid stage and work-winning through to technical delivery and handover. This is a pivotal senior leadership role, combining technical authority, design governance, and commercial insight. You will lead the design function across a portfolio of healthcare projects, setting strategy, managing risk, and ensuring design excellence, compliance, and buildability throughout. Design Leads on individual projects will report directly into this role, giving you full oversight of design performance, coordination, and delivery across the healthcare portfolio. Working closely with the Operations Director and senior project stakeholders, you will monitor design progress, manage technical and regulatory risk, and proactively address any matters that may impact programme, cost, quality, or clinical functionality.

Key Responsibilities

• Bidding & Work Winning

  Lead the design and technical strategy for healthcare bids, ensuring compliance with HTM/HBN standards and client requirements. Prepare and oversee design management plans, technical narratives, and interface strategies. Work closely with commercial, planning, and operational teams to align design assumptions with cost and programme. Represent the business in client interviews, bid presentations, and technical discussions. Build strong relationships with consultants and supply chain partners to enhance technical capability.

• Design Leadership & Portfolio Oversight

  Provide strategic oversight of design delivery across multiple healthcare projects. Line‑manage Design Leads, maintaining visibility of progress, risks, and deliverables. Act as the senior technical authority across the healthcare portfolio. Report on design performance, risk, and compliance to senior operational leadership. Drive consistent design management processes, governance, and approval gateways.

• Pre‑Construction & Design Development

  Lead reviews of concept, scheme, and detailed design stages. Ensure compliance with NHS standards, Building Regulations, fire strategy, and statutory requirements. Oversee design risk management, value engineering, and buildability reviews. Support contractor proposals, planning submissions, and technical approvals.

• Construction & Delivery Support

  Maintain technical oversight during construction to ensure ongoing compliance and coordination. Support resolution of complex design and interface issues across architectural, MEP, and structural disciplines. Oversee design change control and variation assessment. Ensure timely completion of design deliverables to support commissioning and handover.

• Client & Stakeholder Engagement

  Engage with NHS Trusts, user groups, clinical stakeholders, and technical advisors. Facilitate workshops, design reviews, and mock‑ups to ensure operationally effective outcomes. Maintain relationships with statutory authorities and NHS technical bodies.

About You (Qualifications and Experience)

• Extensive experience leading design on healthcare construction projects.
• In‑depth knowledge of HTM and HBN standards, infection prevention principles, and clinical adjacencies.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary design teams across multiple projects.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how design impacts cost, programme, and risk.
• Confident communicator, able to translate complex technical issues into clear direction.
• Calm, analytical, and solutions‑focused approach to problem‑solving.

What's on Offer

Senior leadership role with genuine influence over design strategy. Opportunity to shape and lead the healthcare design function. Work on complex, high‑profile healthcare schemes. Competitive salary and benefits package.

Interested? Apply with your CV or contact us for a confidential discussion.