Mechanical Pre-Construction Design Manager

Manchester Arndale; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking a Mechanical Pre-Construction & Design Manager to lead mechanical design and technical solution development across energy, decarbonisation, M&E, and building services projects in Scotland. You will own pre-construction design, review calculations and specs, manage consultants and supply chain, and ensure safe, compliant, and cost-effective outcomes.

The role reports to the Technical Director and requires strong leadership of cross-functional teams, governance, and

Qualifications

• 8+ years in mechanical building services design and pre-construction.
• Ability to lead mechanical design from concept to contract award.
• Knowledge of Building Regulations and CDM.
• Experience with BIM and digital engineering is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and technical solution during pre-construction.
• Develop and review designs, calculations, drawings and specs.
• Manage external MEP consultants and supply chain.
• Ensure designs are buildable, compliant and cost-effective.
• Lead design reviews and governance.
• Coordinate with commercial and bid teams on tenders.
• Provide technical mentoring to engineers and bid colleagues.

Skills

Mechanical design leadership

Pre-construction experience

M&E coordination

HVAC/building services

Design risk management

Client/stakeholder management

Contract knowledge (JCT/NEC)

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services

Chartered Engineer status

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Excel

Job description

About The Company

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values -Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment

About The Role

Reporting to the Technical Director, this is an excellent opportunity for a Mechanical Pre-Construction & Design Manager to perform a key role within the OCS Energy Services business. The role leads the technical and commercial development of opportunities from initial enquiry and opportunity qualification through to contract award and handover to delivery, covering energy, decarbonisation, M&E, building services, renewable energy, refurbishment and infrastructure projects.

With a strong mechanically biased building services design background, you will own and lead the mechanical design and technical solution during pre-construction. You will develop, review and challenge designs and specifications, manage consultants, specialist designers and the supply chain, identify design gaps, risks and value-engineering opportunities, and ensure that solutions are safe, buildable, compliant, cost-effective and capable of being profitably delivered.

The role is based in Scotland.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Construction & Design

• Lead the pre-construction process across single or multiple opportunities from enquiry and opportunity qualification through design development, tender submission, contract award and handover to the delivery team.
• Own the mechanical design and technical solution during pre-construction and act as mechanical technical authority across allocated projects.
• Develop, review, challenge and approve mechanical designs, calculations, drawings and technical specifications, ensuring solutions are buildable, compliant, coordinated and commercially sound.
• Provide leadership across mechanical design standards and governance and ensure compliance with relevant Building Regulations, industry standards and codes of practice.
• Undertake design scope and gap analysis, identify constructability issues and spearhead the development of corrections, alternative solutions and value-engineering opportunities.
• Manage external MEP consultants, specialist designers and supply-chain design partners, coordinating design packages, deliverables, interfaces and programme milestones.
• Carry out and coordinate site surveys, feasibility studies and technical due diligence to inform design development, scope and cost.
• Review plant, equipment and contractor-designed packages for technical compliance, integration, maintainability and value.
• Own design risk management and CDM duties during pre-construction, including designer risk assessments and buildability, safety, operational and maintainability reviews.
• Take ownership of understanding the client and employer requirements from the outset and communicate these clearly to the project team.

Commercial & Bid Support

• Work closely with estimating and commercial colleagues to develop the commercial strategy, cost plans, take-offs and pricing, and validate subcontractor and supplier quotations.
• Identify technical, operational, contractual and financial risks and develop solutions that minimise exposure while maximising commercial, quality and operational opportunities.
• Prepare, review and present technical content for tenders, proposals and client presentations, including method statements, programmes, drawings, specifications and technical narratives.
• Support bid/no-bid decisions through technical and deliverability assessments and contribute to margin, risk and opportunity reviews at relevant gate stages.
• Ensure a robust handover at contract award, clearly communicating the agreed design, scope, assumptions, exclusions, design status and risk register to the operational delivery team.

Client, Team & Governance

• Act as a technical point of contact for clients, consultants, main contractors and other stakeholders, representing OCS and building confidence in the technical offer.
• Lead internal and external design reviews, workshops and meetings and provide technical mentoring and guidance to engineers, project managers and bid colleagues.
• Maintain appropriate pre-construction and design governance, including project risk registers, drawing registers, design records and document control in line with company and ISO requirements.
• Work collaboratively with operations, estimating, planning, commercial, bid and business development teams and establish strong relationships with consultants, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Keep up to date with and promote low-carbon technologies, renewable energy solutions, emerging standards and best practice in design and pre-construction.
• Work with the project lead to implement effective pre-construction project management across single or multiple projects, depending on scale.
• Positively influence project outcomes through considered technical decisions and, where appropriate, instruct professional teams to maximise opportunities for the business.
• Manage, coordinate and liaise with both directly appointed and client-appointed design teams throughout pre-construction to ensure Employer’s Requirements and client requirements are fully and demonstrably delivered.
• Take part in and technically lead project presentations at bid, post-tender and pre-construction stages, as required.
• Engage with clients, designers, internal delivery teams and the supply chain to develop efficient, innovative, best-value and quality-led construction methodologies and project delivery strategies.

Construction Methodology & Delivery Strategy

• Work with clients, designers, internal delivery teams and the supply chain to develop construction methodology and project delivery strategies during pre-construction.
• Manage and coordinate the initiation and completion of relevant statutory application and approval processes to ensure they are secured in line with project requirements and programme.
• Identify and promote positive health and safety strategies at pre-construction stage, maintaining appropriate commercial and construction HSEQ awareness.
• Support procurement routes including public-sector procurement, frameworks and competitive tenders, with an understanding of the associated contractual and stakeholder requirements.

Key Skills and Professional experience

Essential

• Minimum 8 years' relevant experience in mechanical building services design, pre-construction, design management or technical management within an MEP, energy or construction environment.
• Proven track record of technical design leadership and of developing mechanical designs and technical solutions from concept through to contract award on projects of comparable value and complexity.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical building services, including HVAC, public health, plant, renewable energy and low-carbon systems, together with a sound understanding of M&E coordination and interfaces.
• Proven ability to lead, review, challenge and assure mechanical design outputs, calculations and specifications across project stages.
• Strong understanding of design management, procurement, consultant management and design-and-build project delivery.
• Working knowledge of the RIBA Plan of Work, CDM Regulations, Building Regulations and relevant technical standards, including design risk management.
• Knowledge and understanding of the bid process from pre-qualification and opportunity assessment through tender, contract award and transition into construction.
• Sound commercial awareness, including cost planning, estimating principles, risk and value management and common forms of construction contract such as JCT and NEC.
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders and projects concurrently and working effectively to demanding deadlines.

Desirable

• Degree, HND or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status, or working towards chartership, with CIBSE, IMechE or equivalent.
• Experience in complex sectors such as healthcare, commercial buildings, infrastructure, energy or decarbonisation.
• Knowledge of BIM and digital engineering practices; familiarity with AutoCAD/Revit and design, scheduling and estimating software.
• SMSTS, IOSH or equivalent health and safety qualification.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Experience gained within a contracting, consultancy/professional design services or client estates environment.
• Experience of public-sector procurement, frameworks and/or competitive tendering is advantageous.
• Commensurate IT skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Teams and SharePoint.

Personal Attributes

• Strong and effective communicator, able to explain technical solutions clearly to technical and non-technical audiences and engage confidently with clients.
• Commercially minded, with sound judgement on risk, value, quality and deliverability.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a rigorous, structured approach to design, scope and cost.
• Client-focused and professional, with the ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and supply-chain partners.
• Collaborative team player who is comfortable leading multi-disciplinary teams and influencing stakeholders without direct line authority.
• Self-motivated, proactive and target driven, with the ability to prioritise workload, use initiative and manage multiple opportunities simultaneously.
• Able to work calmly and efficiently in a pressurised, deadline-driven environment.

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.