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Senior Design Manager

Wates Group

Birmingham

On-site

GBP 70,000 - 90,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead innovative design projects in Birmingham. This role is pivotal in transforming creative visions into reality, ensuring that designs not only captivate but are also practical and compliant with safety standards. You will collaborate with various teams, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence. With a commitment to sustainability and community impact, this position offers a chance to make a significant mark in the construction sector. Join a company that values your insights and promotes a supportive environment for professional growth.

Benefits

Car Allowance / Company Car

Private Medical

Pension 8% employers’ contribution

Health and Wellness programme

26 days holidays + bank holidays

Flexible working

Profit share scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Industry leading family leave benefits

Qualifications

Proven experience managing complex design processes on major construction projects.
A collaborative mindset with a sharp eye for detail, quality, and innovation.

Responsibilities

Lead the design programme, ensuring beautiful and buildable outcomes.
Identify design risks and turn them into opportunities that unlock value.

Skills

Design Management

Complex Design Processes

Stakeholder Engagement

Risk Management

Creative Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Architecture or Engineering

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The Vacancy

At Wates, we don’t just construct buildings—we craft places with meaning, impact, and innovation at their core. Now, we're looking for a Senior Design Manager to join our team in Birmingham and help shape some of the most high-profile, technically ambitious projects in the city.

If you're the kind of person who sees possibility where others see limitations—who thrives in complexity, and leads with creativity and clarity—then this is your moment.

Why This Role?

As a Senior Design Manager, you're a strategic force, turning vision into reality, balancing creativity with constructability, and driving design excellence at every turn.

You’ll be the glue between imagination and execution—where the boldest ideas meet the practical brilliance of delivery.

What You’ll Be Doing

Rethink the ordinary. Challenge the status quo of design and construction.
Lead from the front. Own the design programme, working with consultants, commercial and ops teams to deliver beautiful, buildable, and budget-conscious outcomes.
Spot the hidden potential. Identify design risks and turn them into opportunities that unlock value and elevate outcomes.
Create cohesion. Align stakeholders, drive workshops, and champion coordination from concept to completion.
Be the spark. Bring fresh thinking, elevate others, and leave a lasting mark on every project you touch.
Ensure compliance. Act as a competent professional under the Building Safety Act, signing off project components with full accountability for safety and regulatory alignment.

What You’ll Bring

A passion for design that goes beyond aesthetics—you see how it lives, breathes, and functions in the real world
Proven experience managing complex design processes on major construction projects
A collaborative mindset and a sharp eye for detail, quality, and innovation
The confidence to challenge, the curiosity to ask “what if?”, and the skills to turn ideas into impact

What We Offer

Competitive salary & profit share scheme
Flexible working
Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role/Grade)
Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates)
Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more…
Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression.
Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.

To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/

We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all of the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group.

If you would like clarity on any of our vacancies, discuss career opportunities in strict confidence or need anything to make our recruitment process easier, please contact our In-House Recruitment Team directly or via recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of us will get in touch as soon as possible.

As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships.

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo an Enhanced and Barred Lists Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks.

To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies. Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.

Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.

Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in, and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer. We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.

Work for Wates

Wates Group is one of the largest, and most successful family-owned private construction, development, and property services companies in the UK. We are building a place to work where everyone belongs, by one small act of inclusion at a time. We celebrate difference and welcome diversity.

As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships.

The Wates Group are committed to three ambitious environmental targets for 2025: Zero Waste, and Zero Carbon, from our operations and Positive Nature Enhancement. Wates are pushing to take a leading role in reducing our industry’s environmental impact.

Seniority level

Seniority level
Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Employment type
Full-time

Job function

Job function
Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology
Industries
Construction

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