Principal Design Manager

Fawkes & Reece; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Secure, long-term pipeline of Education projects

Clear career progression and development support

Enhanced benefits package including travel expenses

Private healthcare for you and your partner

Job summary

A leading Tier 1 Main Contractor in the UK is seeking a Principal Design Manager to oversee the design management of multiple education projects. This role involves coordination with internal teams, clients, and contractors to ensure high-quality delivery. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in design management, strong leadership, and communication skills. This opportunity offers long-term project stability, clear career progression, and an enhanced benefits package including travel expenses and private healthcare.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Design Management within the Education sector.
• Previous experience working for a Main Contractor (Tier 1 preferred).
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects and complex stakeholder groups.
• Confident leader with excellent communication and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design process from pre‑construction through to project delivery across multiple Education projects.
• Act as the primary point of contact between the client, consultants, and construction teams.
• Manage design programmes, risk registers, and statutory/design compliance.
• Drive design quality, buildability, and value engineering where appropriate.

Skills

Design Management

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Project Coordination

Job description

Principal Design Manager – Education

Join one of the UK’s leading Tier 1 Main Contractors, renowned for delivering high-quality projects across a broad range of sectors. With a strong and growing pipeline of Education and DfE projects across the UK, our client is expanding their design management function and is seeking an experienced Principal Design Manager to lead their Education division.

The Role

As Principal Design Manager, you will play a key leadership role, managing and coordinating the design process across multiple Education projects, primarily based in London. Working closely with internal teams, external consultants, and subcontractors, you will ensure that practical, compliant design solutions are developed, coordinated, and delivered on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design process from pre‑construction through to project delivery across multiple Education/DfE schemes
• Act as the primary point of contact between the client, consultants, and construction teams
• Manage design programmes, risk registers, and statutory/design compliance
• Drive design quality, buildability, and value engineering where appropriate

Requirements

• Proven experience in Design Management within the Education sector
• Previous experience working for a Main Contractor (Tier 1 preferred)
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects and complex stakeholder groups
• Confident leader with excellent communication and coordination skills

What’s in It for You?

• Secure, long‑term pipeline of Education projects
• Clear career progression and development support
• Enhanced benefits package including:
• Travel expenses
• Private healthcare for you and your partner

This is an excellent opportunity to join a financially secure contractor with a strong reputation and a robust pipeline of work ahead.

To find out more about this Principal Design Manager opportunity, please apply with an up‑to‑date CV or contact Francesca Cainelli at our London office on 020 7288 016.