Senior Design Lead for Residential & Mixed-Use Projects

United Infrastructure Group; Warrington, Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

United Infrastructure Group seeks a Principal Design Lead to provide senior technical leadership across multiple residential and mixed-use schemes, driving design excellence, risk mitigation, and consistent standards.

You will mentor Design Managers, oversee bid-stage input, and ensure compliance with building regulations and client requirements, while maintaining hands-on involvement on complex projects as needed.

Qualifications

• 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 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.

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.

Skills

Senior design leadership

Bid-stage input

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Education

Degree in Architecture/Engineering/Construction Management

Tools

BIM

CAD

Job description

United Infrastructure Group seeks a Principal Design Lead to provide senior technical leadership across multiple residential and mixed-use schemes, driving design excellence, risk mitigation, and consistent standards.

You will mentor Design Managers, oversee bid-stage input, and ensure compliance with building regulations and client requirements, while maintaining hands-on involvement on complex projects as needed.