Senior Design Lead - FaÇAdes

Ford & Stanley Recruitment; Morley; Hybrid; GBP 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist construction contractor is seeking a Senior Design Lead (Façade Specialist) for their Derby office. This position involves leading the design process across complex projects while mentoring a team of Design Managers. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in façade design and managing multi-disciplinary teams. A salary of up to £65,000 plus a car allowance is offered, alongside regular travel to project sites. Candidates must demonstrate excellent technical skills and the ability to meet tight deadlines.

Benefits

Car allowance

Qualifications

• Proven ability to manage the full design process on large, complex projects.
• Extensive experience in the construction industry.
• Competent in using design software and document management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design function across multiple projects.
• Coordinate all interface details and prepare technical submissions.
• Act as a key contact for design matters with clients and partners.
• Identify and implement Value Engineering opportunities.
• Oversee effective document control and timely information flow.

Skills

Managing multi-disciplinary design teams

Façade Design/Building Envelope systems

Construction technology understanding

Time management

Excellent communication skills

Design software proficiency

Job description

Senior Design Lead (Façade Specialist) | Derby (Regular Site Travel) | up to £65,000 | Permanent

The Opportunity

Join a market-leading Specialist Construction Contractor focused on high-quality building envelope and façade solutions. This is a crucial leadership position where you will be instrumental in managing the entire design process across multiple complex projects, from pre-construction through to final completion. You will lead and mentor a team of Design Managers, providing technical authority, ensuring compliance, and integrating detailed design with programme and commercial requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design function, coordinating internal and external design managers, teams, and specialist design sub-contractors.
• Ensure all design requirements are met, undertaking thorough review and interrogation from the tender stage onwards.
• Coordinate all interface details and prepare high-quality technical submissions for products and materials.
• Act as the key point of contact for design matters, managing relationships with the client's design team and consultant partners.
• Identify and implement Value Engineering (VE) opportunities and ensure compliance with contract requirements, programme, and budget.
• Oversee effective document control, RFI management, and the timely flow of information to site teams.
• Participate in the collation and handover of completed design records (O&M manuals and CDM files).

The Candidate

The successful candidate will be a proactive, commercially astute, and highly technical design leader with significant experience in specialist facades.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Extensive experience in managing multi-disciplinary design teams within the construction industry.
• Strong, demonstrable technical background in Façade Design/Building Envelope systems (cladding, curtain walling, rainscreens, etc.).
• Proven ability to manage the full design process on large, complex projects.
• A detailed understanding of construction technology, buildability, and contractual requirements.
• Excellent time management, presentation, and communication skills, with the capacity to meet tight deadlines under pressure.
• Competent in using design software and document management systems (e.g., web-based portals).
• Must be willing to travel regularly to various project sites in addition to time in the Derby office.

Location

Derby Office (with regular required travel to sites)

Salary

Up to £65,000 plus car allowance

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.

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Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an ongoing basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.