Principle Design Lead

United Infrastructure Ltd; Stretford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

United Infrastructure Ltd invites applications for the Principal Design Lead to provide senior technical leadership across multiple residential and mixed-use developments in the UK. The role requires overseeing design management, risk control, bid input, and ensuring compliance with planning and building regulations.

You will mentor Design Managers and Senior Design Managers, guiding complex projects while remaining hands-on where needed to secure successful outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior design management across residential, mixed-use and HRB projects.
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Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across multiple developments, ensuring compliant, buildable design solutions.
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Skills

Senior design management

Leadership

Mentoring

Bid-stage input

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Project delivery

Communication

Driving licence

Education

Degree in Architecture/Engineering/Construction Management

Tools

BIM

Digital design tools

Job description

The Principal Design Lead (PDL) provides senior technical leadership across multiple projects, bridging strategic technical oversight and project-level design management. Supporting the Head of Technical, the role is responsible for driving design excellence, managing technical risk, leading bid-stage input, and ensuring consistency, compliance, and performance across all schemes.

The PDL will mentor and support Design Managers and Senior Design Managers, while retaining hands-on responsibility for key or complex projects as required.

Key Responsibilities

Principal Design Lead - Manchester

The Principal Design Lead (PDL) provides senior technical leadership across multiple projects, bridging strategic technical oversight and project-level design management. Supporting the Head of Technical, the role is responsible for driving design excellence, managing technical risk, leading bid-stage input, and ensuring consistency, compliance, and performance across all schemes.

The PDL will mentor and support Design Managers and Senior Design Managers, while retaining hands-on responsibility for key or complex projects as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across multiple residential and mixed-use developments, ensuring coordinated, compliant, and buildable design solutions.
• Lead technical input into bids, including design appraisals, consultant strategies, programme development, risk management, and value engineering.
• Act as the escalation point for complex design and technical issues, driving timely resolution and mitigating project risk.
• Oversee design programmes, ensuring alignment with project objectives, budgets, and delivery strategies.
• Support the Head of Technical in implementing consistent design management processes, standards, and procedures.
• Mentor and develop Design Managers and Senior Design Managers through coaching, guidance, and technical support.
• Review and challenge design information to ensure compliance with legislation, planning approvals, client requirements, and company standards.
• Coordinate with Commercial, Operations, and Bid teams to deliver practical, cost-effective design solutions.
• Oversee consultant and subcontractor design performance, including scoping, procurement, competency reviews, and change management.
• Support the timely delivery of statutory approvals, building control submissions, and planning requirements.
• Promote best practice in fire safety, structural design, MEP integration, façade design, and building safety compliance.
• Chair and facilitate design workshops, coordination meetings, and technical reviews on complex or high-risk schemes.
• Conduct site visits to support delivery teams and resolve technical challenges.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Essential Criteria

• Extensive experience in senior design management across residential, mixed-use, and high-rise developments.
• Proven leadership and mentoring experience within technical or design teams.
• Strong understanding of design management throughout bid, pre-construction, construction, and handover stages.
• Excellent technical knowledge of construction, design coordination, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading bid-stage technical submissions and managing technical risk across multiple projects.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance quality, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Up-to-date knowledge of the Building Safety Act, Building Regulations, Dutyholder responsibilities, and Higher-Risk Building (HRB) procedures.
• Experience managing consultant performance, design programmes, procurement activities, and designer scoping.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, problem-solving, and reporting skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and support successful project delivery.
• Knowledge of construction methodologies, sequencing, temporary works, and pre-construction activities.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience supporting or deputising for a Head of Technical or Technical Director.
• Proven involvement in complex, high-risk, or Higher-Risk Building (HRB) projects.
• Experience improving technical processes, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Knowledge of PAS 9980, EWS1, FRAEW, and fire safety compliance requirements.
• Experience with BIM and digital design management systems.
• Membership of a professional institution such as CIOB, CIAT, or RICS.
• Degree (or equivalent) in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of contractual design obligations, utility applications, and statutory agreements.
• Passion for delivering high-quality, customer-focused construction projects.

About United Infrastructure

Join United Infrastructure and play a key role in delivering innovative, sustainable, and high-quality infrastructure and construction solutions that support communities across the UK.