Senior Design Lead – Residential Developments (UK)

Bespoke Careers; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Bespoke Careers is seeking an experienced Design Lead to join a growing residential development business in a senior client-side role across UK-wide projects. You will shape design quality and lead the process from concept through to handover, coordinating with architects, consultants and internal teams to ensure high-quality, deliverable designs.

You will help establish briefs, review proposals, and drive design standards while balancing quality, cost, programme and asset value.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in architecture or design management within built-environment sectors.
• Strong understanding of UK residential development processes and design stages.
• Experience leading design teams and coordinating external architects/consultants.
• Proven ability to manage design quality, cost, and programme trade-offs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design process from concept to handover across UK residential projects.
• Collaborate with Development Directors/Managers to establish design briefs and requirements.
• Coordinate architects, consultants, and design teams to meet quality, programme and commercial goals.
• Review design proposals, technical information, specs, and construction packages.
• Provide clear design direction and ensure decisions are coordinated and deliverable.
• Develop and maintain design standards, guidelines, palettes and best practices.
• Support consultant selection, appointments and procurement processes.
• Work with development, construction, investment, marketing and mobilisation teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve design quality, efficiency, sustainability and long-term asset value.
• Provide design leadership across multiple projects and stages.

Skills

Architecture design

Design management

Property development

Stakeholder management

RIBA stages

Design leadership

Client-side experience

Collaborative working

Job description

Bespoke Careers is seeking an experienced Design Lead to join a growing residential development business in a senior client-side role across UK-wide projects. You will shape design quality and lead the process from concept through to handover, coordinating with architects, consultants and internal teams to ensure high-quality, deliverable designs.

You will help establish briefs, review proposals, and drive design standards while balancing quality, cost, programme and asset value.