Senior Design Manager

4Front Recruitment; Corsham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Job summary

4Front Recruitment seeks a Senior Design Manager for a flagship data centre project near Corsham. You will steer design strategy, lead multidisciplinary teams, and ensure governance and technical assurance from concept to completion.

Requires a strong contractor background, value engineering expertise, and a proven record delivering high-value, buildable designs on time and within budget. Degree in engineering/architecture and chartered status are advantageous.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading design management across major construction projects.
• Background with a main contractor or design-and-build contractor.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams on complex construction programmes.
• Strong knowledge of contracts, Building Regulations, CDM and design principles.
• Experience managing design governance, programme performance, technical assurance and commercial risk.
• Proven track record delivering value engineering while maintaining programme, quality and buildability.
• Experience mentoring and developing Design Managers and Assistant Design Managers.
• Experience in data centres, mission critical, defence, energy, industrial or other technically complex environments.
• Degree or equivalent with RIBA/CIOB/ICE; Chartered status advantageous; SMSTS and CSCS Manager Card preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead design management across a major construction programme, ensuring governance and technical assurance.
• Define and implement the project's design delivery strategy aligned to procurement, construction and commissioning objectives.
• Oversee design governance, manage technical risk, lead design reviews and change control.
• Promote value engineering and drive innovation across the design function.
• Develop and mentor Design Managers and Assistant Design Managers.
• Collaborate with project leadership, consultants, and delivery teams to ensure high-quality outcomes.

Skills

Design leadership

Construction management

Team leadership

Contractual knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Value engineering

Mentoring

Data centre / mission critical

Education

Engineering/Architecture degree

Chartered status advantageous

Job description

Senior Design Manager

Location: Corsham, Wiltshire

Salary: £85,000 to £95,000 + Car Allowance + Excellent Benefits

Sector: High Tech Construction | Data Centres | Defence | Energy

Job Type: Permanent | Full Time | Site Based

Do you enjoy leading design strategy on major, technically complex construction projects?

If you're an experienced Senior Design Manager who thrives on leading multidisciplinary teams, driving design excellence and influencing project delivery from concept through to completion, this could be your next opportunity.

My client is a specialist design and build contractor delivering complex projects across the data centre, defence and energy sectors. Their reputation has been built on technical excellence, innovation and delivering projects where quality, collaboration and engineering expertise are fundamental to success.

They are now looking for a Senior Design Manager to join a flagship £80 million hyperscale data centre development in Wiltshire, providing strategic leadership across one of the UK's most technically advanced mission critical construction projects.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership role where you'll take overall responsibility for design management across a major construction programme, ensuring design performance, governance and technical assurance are delivered to the highest possible standards.

You'll define and implement the project's design delivery strategy, ensuring design activities support procurement, construction and commissioning while remaining aligned to programme, quality, commercial and client objectives.

Working closely with project leadership, consultants and delivery teams, you'll oversee design governance, manage technical risk, lead key design reviews and ensure robust change control throughout the project lifecycle.

You'll also play a significant role in driving value engineering, promoting innovation and developing best practice across the wider design management function.

If you're passionate about technical leadership and enjoy influencing the successful delivery of complex, high value projects, this is an outstanding opportunity.

We're Looking for Someone Who Has

• Significant experience leading design management across major construction projects.
• A strong background working for a main contractor or specialist design and build contractor.
• Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary design teams on complex construction programmes.
• Strong knowledge of contractual obligations, Building Regulations, CDM requirements and construction design principles.
• Experience managing design governance, programme performance, technical assurance and commercial risk.
• A proven track record of delivering value engineering solutions while maintaining programme, quality and buildability.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing Design Managers and Assistant Design Managers.
• Experience within data centres, mission critical, defence, energy, industrial or other technically complex construction environments would be highly desirable.
• A degree or equivalent professional experience together with a relevant industry qualification such as RIBA, CIOB, ICE or similar. Chartered status would be advantageous, together with SMSTS and a CSCS Manager Card (Black preferred).

We're looking for someone who can provide strategic leadership, influence project outcomes, develop high performing teams and ensure projects are delivered right first time.

What's on Offer

• £85,000 to £95,000 salary
• Car allowance
• Competitive pension
• Private healthcare and cash plan
• Electric vehicle schemeCycle to work scheme
• Eyecare vouchers
• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays and your birthday off

This is an opportunity to join a growing contractor delivering some of the UK's most technically advanced construction projects, where you'll shape design strategy, influence project delivery and lead the successful execution of a flagship mission critical development.

If you're looking for your nextSenior Design Manager opportunity and want to work on projects that genuinely push technical boundaries, I'd love to hear from you.