Senior Design Manager

Walker & Sloan; Bath; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Electric Vehicle Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Walker & Sloan are recruiting an experienced Senior Design Manager to join a major hyperscale data centre project in Corsham, Wiltshire. You will provide strategic leadership across design activities from pre-construction through to handover, coordinating clients, consultants and delivery teams to ensure the design information is delivered on time, to programme and to required standards.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record leading design on large-scale construction in a main

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading design delivery on large-scale construction projects.
• Experience coordinating clients, consultants and delivery teams to ensure design alignment with programme.
• Proven ability to manage design governance and risk across complex projects.
• Membership with RIBA, CIOB or ICE is desirable; Chartered status is advantageous.
• SMSTS and a CSCS Black Card are advantageous for site-based leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across all design activities from pre-construction through handover.
• Coordinate with clients, consultants and delivery teams to ensure design information is delivered on time and to programme.
• Oversee design governance, technical compliance and risk management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Mentor multidisciplinary teams and influence stakeholders to achieve outstanding project outcomes.

Skills

Design leadership

Programme management

Governance & compliance

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring teams

Education

Degree in construction or engineering

Job description

Walker & Sloan are working with an outstanding specialist contractor to recruit an experienced Senior Design Manager to join a major hyperscale data centre development in Corsham, Wiltshire.

Our client has built an exceptional reputation for delivering technically complex projects across the Data Centre, Defence and Energy sectors. With over 40 years of specialist expertise, they continue to deliver some of the UK’s most challenging and high-profile construction projects, combining engineering excellence with innovative design and exceptional project delivery.

This opportunity will see you joining the project during RIBA Stage 4, ahead of enabling works commencing in Q4 2026, with the main construction programme beginning in Q2 2027. It’s a rare opportunity to influence a flagship £80 million scheme from the design phase through to completion.

The Role

As Senior Design Manager, you’ll provide strategic leadership across all design activities, ensuring the successful coordination and delivery of design information from pre‑construction through to project handover.

Working closely with clients, consultants, commercial teams and operational delivery teams, you’ll oversee programme performance, technical compliance, design governance and risk management, ensuring the design supports procurement, construction and commissioning activities at every stage.

This is a highly influential role for an experienced Design Manager who enjoys leading multidisciplinary teams while driving innovation, quality and best practice across major construction projects.

About You

You’ll have significant experience leading design delivery on large‑scale construction projects within a main contractor environment and be confident managing multidisciplinary consultant teams throughout the project lifecycle.

You’ll possess a strong understanding of design governance, technical compliance, programme management and commercial risk, alongside the leadership skills required to mentor teams, influence stakeholders and deliver outstanding project outcomes.

Ideally, you’ll be degree qualified within a relevant construction or engineering discipline and hold professional membership with RIBA, CIOB, ICE or a similar organisation. Chartered status would be advantageous, together with SMSTS and a CSCS Black Card.

What’s on Offer?

• Salary between £85,000 – £95,000
• Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays and your birthday off
• Opportunity to influence a flagship £80 million hyperscale data centre from the design stage
• Ongoing professional development and genuine long‑term career progression within a growing specialist contractor