Senior Design Manager

Wates Group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private medical

Pension

Wellbeing support

26 days holiday

Career development

Job summary

Wates Group is seeking a Senior Design Manager to join our Construction West team, delivering complex, high‑value projects across education, custodial, blue light and defence sectors.

The role focuses on leading multi‑disciplinary design coordination, building quality and value into the design and delivery process, with strong leadership and collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior Design Manager within a Tier 1 main contractor.
• Experience in both pre-construction and delivery.
• Experience delivering regionally based construction projects £50m+ in value.
• Knowledge of consultant appointments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate design activity across projects, identifying and mitigating risk while improving buildability and value.
• Develop and manage the design programme and IDP in line with procurement and construction requirements.
• Work closely with project, commercial and operational teams to ensure design solutions are coordinated, compliant and cost‑effective.
• Engage with consultants and lead designers to ensure designs align with the brief, budget and programme.
• Support technical reviews, design workshops and value engineering activities.
• Report against design progress and monitor consultant performance.

Skills

Design coordination

Stakeholder management

Digital literacy

Construction project experience

Job description

Senior Design Manager – Construction West

Location: North West

Our Wates Construction West business is seeking a Senior Design Manager to join our team, delivering complex, high‑value projects across a range of sectors including Education, Custodial, Blue Light and Defence.

This role is ideal for an experienced design professional who thrives in collaborative environments, brings strong technical leadership, and is motivated to drive quality, buildability and value throughout the design and delivery process.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate design activity across projects, identifying and mitigating risk while improving buildability and value
• Develop and manage the design programme and Information Delivery Plan (IDP) in line with procurement and construction requirements
• Work closely with project, commercial and operational teams to ensure design solutions are coordinated, compliant and cost‑effective
• Engage with consultants and lead designers to ensure designs align with the brief, budget and programme
• Support technical reviews, design workshops and value engineering activities
• Reporting against design progress and monitoring consultant performance

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience as a Senior Design Manager within a Tier 1 main contractor
• Extensive experience in both pre-construction and delivery
• Strong technical and multidisciplinary design coordination skills
• Experience delivering regionally based construction projects £50m+ in value
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence and challenge constructively
• High level of Digital Literacy
• Knowledge of consultant appointments

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and Bonus program
• Car allowance or company car
• Travel covered to site (HMRC advisory rates)
• Private medical, 8% employer pension, wellbeing support
• 26 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Industry‑leading family leave and structured career development