Senior Design Manager

Wates Smartspace; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus program

Car allowance or company car

Travel to site covered

Private medical

8% employer pension

Wellbeing support

26 days' holiday + bank holidays

Career development

Job summary

Wates Construction West is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead design delivery on complex, high-value projects across Education, Custodial, Blue Light and Defence sectors.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, buildability improvement and collaborative design management across pre-construction and delivery phases.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior Design Manager within a Tier 1 main contractor.
• Strong leadership across multidisciplinary design teams.
• Experience driving buildability, value engineering and coordination.

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.

Skills

Senior Design Manager

Design coordination

Pre-construction delivery

Technical leadership

Risk & value management

Job description

Senior Design Manager - Construction West

Location: North West

Our Wates Construction West business is seeking a SeniorDesign 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.

KeyResponsibilities

• 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

  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