Senior Design Manager

Rise Technical Recruitment; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction group is seeking a Senior Design Manager in Derby to lead design teams and ensure project accuracy. This role offers a salary of £50,000 - £65,000 plus a bonus scheme and clear progression routes to a Director level. The ideal candidate will have proven design management experience and strong leadership skills, willing to contribute to continuous improvement and team development.

Benefits

Bonus Scheme

Early Finish Fridays

Training

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Design Manager in construction.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Confident in liaising with clients and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage design teams.
• Oversee design from pre-construction to completion.
• Ensure accuracy of design information.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Design coordination

Job description

Senior Design Manager / Design Lead
Derby (Hybrid - occasional site visits)
50,000 - 65,000 + Bonus Scheme + Early Finish Fridays + Progression to Director + Training

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced Senior Design Manager to take the lead within a growing construction group that's investing heavily in its people, its values, and its future with the idea to rise to a director position. Do you have proven experience leading design teams within construction? Are you looking to step into a senior, leadership role where you can directly shape design processes and influence business growth? Do you want to join a company that values trust, respect, integrity, and passion - and gives you the autonomy to make real impact? Operating as part of a successful group, this division is focused on traditional masonry and facade-led construction projects. With multiple offices across the UK and a strong pipeline of secured work, the business is entering an exciting period of expansion, particularly within its design team. As Senior Design Manager, you'll take ownership of internal and external design coordination, lead the in-house design team, ensure information accuracy across projects, and work closely with Directors and Estimators during pre-construction. You'll play a key role in driving continuous improvement across design and delivery while championing the company's new core values. The ideal candidate will be an experienced Design Manager with excellent people skills and the confidence to go on to lead a department. You'll be technically strong, collaborative, and eager to develop further as the company continues to grow, with clear progression routes up to Design Director level.

The Role

• Lead and manage internal and external design teams
• Oversee design coordination from pre-construction to completion
• Liaise with Directors, Estimators, and Project Managers across all stages
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of design information and documentation
• Contribute to tender reviews and pre-construction planning
• Support team development and training, driving best practice

The Person

• Proven experience as a Design Manager
• Strong leadership and communication skills with team management experience
• Confident liaising with clients, internal teams, and external consultants
• Eager to progress toward senior leadership roles
• Based within commutable distance of Derby, with flexibility for hybrid work