Residential Design Leader — Buildable, Sustainable Homes

Wates Smartspace; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Wates Residential is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead design management across major residential developments, collaborating with development, commercial, pre-construction and operations teams from concept to completion.

The role focuses on coordinating design outputs, ensuring quality, buildability and compliance, while managing consultants and stakeholder relationships and driving innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Senior Design Manager, Design Lead or similar role within residential or construction.
• Strong understanding of design management and project delivery.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary consultant teams and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• The ability to identify risk, solve problems and make informed decisions.
• Experience supporting bids, tenders and client presentations.
• A collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing people and improving performance.
• Professional membership or chartered status (or working towards) would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Leading design management across one or more residential developments.
• Coordinating and directing design activities from pre-construction through to completion.
• Reviewing and challenging design outputs to ensure quality, compliance and buildability.
• Identifying and mitigating technical, commercial and programme risks.
• Supporting bids, tenders and work-winning activity.
• Driving collaboration between internal teams, consultants and external partners.
• Championing health, safety, sustainability and Building Safety requirements.
• Mentoring and developing Design Managers and Assistant Design Managers.
• Promoting innovation, best practice and continuous improvement across projects.

Skills

Design management

Construction methods

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Bid/tender support

Mentoring

Job description

Wates Residential is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead design management across major residential developments, collaborating with development, commercial, pre-construction and operations teams from concept to completion.

The role focuses on coordinating design outputs, ensuring quality, buildability and compliance, while managing consultants and stakeholder relationships and driving innovation and continuous improvement.