Principal Design Manager

SISK Group; Farringdon; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare construction firm in the UK seeks a Principle Design Manager to oversee the design lifecycle of healthcare construction projects. This role involves providing strategic leadership, ensuring compliance with regulations, and managing multidisciplinary design teams. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in healthcare projects, strong technical knowledge, and excellent stakeholder management skills. The position offers competitive salary and extensive benefits, contributing to the success of impactful healthcare facilities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

26 days annual leave plus additional company days

Pension and benefits

Unlimited learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in delivering healthcare construction projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams through RIBA Stages 2-5.
• Strong understanding of HTM/HBN standards and Building Regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and technical input for healthcare bids.
• Provide oversight on design delivery across multiple projects.
• Engage with clients and stakeholders to manage expectations.

Skills

Healthcare project management

Design leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Technical compliance

Education

Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or Construction Management

Chartered or working towards professional membership

Tools

BIM Level 2+

Job description

Overview

The Principle Design Manager will provide strategic leadership across the full lifecycle of healthcare construction projects — from bidding and work‑winning through to technical delivery and handover. This pivotal position combines technical authority, design leadership and commercial awareness. You will lead the preparation of design strategies and technical submissions during the bid stage, ensuring proposals are compliant, buildable and competitive. Once projects are awarded, you will oversee their design delivery, with individual Design Leads on each scheme reporting directly to you. Working closely with the Operations Director, you will monitor design progress, manage technical risk across the healthcare portfolio and raise any matters that may affect programme, cost or quality.

Bidding & Work Winning

• Lead the design and technical input to healthcare bids, ensuring proposals comply with HTM/HBN standards and client requirements.
• Develop design management plans, technical narratives and interface strategies that enhance competitiveness and deliverability.
• Work collaboratively with estimators, planners and project directors to align design assumptions with cost and programme strategies.
• Represent the business in client interviews and technical presentations, articulating the rationale behind proposed solutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with key design consultants and supply chain partners to strengthen technical capability and knowledge transfer.

Leadership & Portfolio Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of design delivery across multiple healthcare projects, ensuring quality, compliance and coordination.
• Line‑manage project Design Leads, maintaining visibility of progress, risks and deliverables across the portfolio.
• Act as the primary technical liaison between project teams, clients, consultants and clinical stakeholders.
• Report regularly to the Operations Director on project design performance, risk and key matters requiring escalation.
• Drive consistency in design management procedures, ensuring clear roles, deliverables and approval gateways across all projects.

Pre‑Construction & Design Development

• Lead the review and validation of concept, scheme and detailed designs, ensuring compliance with NHS standards, Building Regulations and fire strategy requirements.
• Manage design risk registers, oversee value engineering and ensure buildability is considered throughout the design process.
• Support the development of contractor’s proposals, technical submissions and planning documentation.
• Coordinate design assurance activities at key project gateways and ensure alignment with procurement and delivery strategy.

Construction & Delivery Support

• Maintain high‑level technical oversight during construction to ensure continued design compliance and coordination.
• Support resolution of design‑related queries, construction challenges and technical interface issues across architectural, MEP and structural systems.
• Ensure all works uphold NHS technical standards, infection control requirements and statutory approvals.
• Oversee design change control, ensuring variations are assessed, recorded and agreed in line with programme and commercial requirements.
• Drive timely closeout of design deliverables to support testing, commissioning and handover.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage confidently with client technical advisors, user groups and trust representatives to interpret briefs and manage expectations.
• Facilitate user group workshops, technical demonstrations and design mock‑ups to ensure solutions are operationally viable.
• Maintain proactive relationships with design consultants, statutory authorities and NHS technical bodies to promote best practice and compliance.
• Experience leading or supporting bids for complex healthcare or life‑sciences projects under national NHS or private‑sector frameworks.
• Proven experience delivering healthcare construction projects in acute, clinical or live hospital environments.
• Deep working knowledge of HTM/HBN standards, infection prevention design principles and clinical workflow requirements.
• Significant experience leading multidisciplinary design teams through RIBA Stages 2‑5, ideally within a Tier 1 contractor or healthcare design management role.
• Strong understanding of design interfaces across architecture, structure and MEP systems in complex, service‑intensive environments.
• Familiarity with Building Safety Act 2022 requirements and Gateway 2 design accountability processes.
• Previous involvement in commissioning and clinical handover phases, demonstrating appreciation of operational readiness and user acceptance processes.
• Excellent working knowledge of Building Regulations, fire safety compliance and digital design tools (BIM Level 2+).
• Degree‑qualified in Architecture, Building Services, Civil/Structural Engineering or Construction Management.
• Chartered or working towards professional membership (MCIOB, RIBA, CIBSE or equivalent).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence in client‑facing roles and technical presentations.

Performance Indicators

• Bid submissions that meet technical, compliance and competitive quality benchmarks.
• Design deliverables aligned with agreed programme and cost milestones.
• Compliance with HTM/HBN standards, Building Regulations and statutory approvals.
• Effective escalation and resolution of portfolio‑level design risks.
• Positive feedback from NHS clients and design partners.
• Development and performance of Design Leads and supporting technical staff.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 26 days annual leave plus additional company days
• Pension and benefits
• Unlimited learning and development opportunities
• Much more

Our People and Recruitment Commitment

At Sisk Group our people are at the heart of our success. We offer the chance to work with purpose, build a career with no limits and be part of a great team.

All vacancies are managed directly by our Internal Recruitment Team. Unsolicited contact or speculative CVs from unapproved agencies will not be accepted and no introductory fees will apply.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or any other protected characteristic. Reasonable adjustments are available during the recruitment process.

We know the confidence gap and imposter phenomenon can stop talented candidates applying. You do not need to meet every criterion – your skills and potential matter. Don’t hold back we want to hear from you.

All recruitment materials comply with legal and regulatory requirements including the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the Equality Acts UK and Ireland.