Senior Design Manager

4Front Recruitment Limited; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design and build contractor in the UK is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to oversee the design lifecycle of complex projects in defence and nuclear sectors. This role offers a competitive salary between £80,000 and £90,000, along with career development and a supportive work culture. If you are passionate about leading high-value projects, this is an excellent opportunity.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Company car or car allowance

Career development

Challenging projects

Supportive culture

Job security

Professional development

Qualifications

• 10+ years in design management within construction.
• Proven experience in defence, MOD, nuclear, or highly regulated sectors.
• CSCS Black Card (Design Manager minimum).
• SMSTS certification.

Responsibilities

• Own the entire design lifecycle from bid stage to handover.
• Lead design delivery on £10m+ projects.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams.
• Drive value engineering for cost-effective solutions.
• Manage design programmes to meet critical milestones.

Skills

Design management

Stakeholder management

Cost management

Technical knowledge

Education

Professional qualification: RIBA, ICE, CIOB or equivalent

Tools

BIM Level 2

Job description

Senior Design Manager – Defence & Nuclear – £80k-£90k – Location: Wiltshire/Bristol – Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

Join a market‑leading design and build contractor delivering some of the UK's most important projects in defence, MOD, and nuclear sectors. We're seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to lead complex, high‑value projects across Wiltshire and Bristol. If you thrive on technical challenges, want to work on projects that genuinely matter, and are ready to take your career to the next level, this is your opportunity.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Senior Design Manager, you’ll own the entire design lifecycle from bid stage through to handover on cutting‑edge, high‑tech construction projects.

Your day‑to‑day will include:

• Leading design delivery on £10m+ projects in defence, MOD, and nuclear environments
• Coordinating multidisciplinary design teams, consultants, and specialist subcontractors
• Ensuring full compliance with stringent regulatory, safety, and technical standards
• Driving value engineering to deliver innovative, cost‑effective, and buildable solutions
• Managing design programmes to meet critical project milestones
• Building strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and supply chain partners
• Reviewing and approving technical submissions, drawings, and specifications
• Identifying and mitigating design risks before they impact delivery

What We Need From You

Essential

• 10+ years in design management within construction
• Proven experience in defence, MOD, nuclear, or highly regulated sectors
• Strong technical knowledge of design coordination and buildability
• Professional qualification: RIBA, ICE, CIOB or equivalent
• CSCS Black Card (Design Manager minimum)
• SMSTS certification
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Commercial awareness with ability to balance quality, cost, and programme

Desirable

• Experience with BIM Level 2 and digital design platforms
• Background in data centres, secure facilities, or advanced manufacturing
• Security clearance or eligibility for SC clearance
• Knowledge of CDM regulations and principal designer responsibilities

What’s In It For You?

• Competitive salary of £80,000 – £90,000 (based on experience)
• Company car or car allowance
• Career development – clear progression pathways and leadership training
• Challenging projects – work on the UK's most critical infrastructure
• Industry leader – join a company with an outstanding reputation and project pipeline
• Supportive culture – collaborative environment that values your expertise
• Job security – long‑term projects with a stable, growing contractor
• Professional development – support for charterships and continued learning

Ready to Apply?

If you're an experienced Senior Design Manager ready to lead high‑profile projects in defence and nuclear sectors, we want to hear from you!

Click Apply Now and we'll be in touch within 24 hours to discuss this opportunity.