Senior Design Manager

Watkin Jones Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading property development firm in the UK seeks a Senior Design Manager to oversee complex projects. The ideal candidate will have experience in design management and high-rise projects, along with excellent communication skills. This role offers a competitive salary, strong benefits, and opportunities to drive sustainable initiatives in a progressive work environment.

Benefits

25 days of annual leave

Access to wellbeing programs

Discretionary annual bonus

Health cash plan

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a design or technical management role.
• Experience with high-rise PBSA or BTR schemes.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage design and development process across diverse portfolio.
• Coordinate design deliverables across disciplines.
• Support sustainability initiatives and value engineering.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Stakeholder coordination

Design processes understanding

Construction methods knowledge

Passion for sustainability

Proactive mindset

Collaborative work

Job description

Are you an experienced design professional ready to take ownership of complex, high-profile projects? We re looking for a Senior Design Manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment, balancing creativity, technical precision, and commercial awareness to deliver outstanding results.

In this key role, you ll manage the design and development process across a diverse portfolio, ensuring every project meets customer expectations, business objectives, and sustainability goals. You ll be the bridge between innovation and execution bringing ideas to life while maintaining the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

This role is based at our Chester office, with flexibility to work from home and includes travel to project sites as required.

What You ll Be Doing

You ll be responsible for reviewing consultant appointments and ensuring compliance with agreed scopes of service. You ll coordinate design deliverables across disciplines, manage proposals within BIM and commercial constraints, and advise on buildability and technical feasibility. Your role will involve tracking progress, managing submissions to clients and statutory bodies, and identifying opportunities for value engineering and offsite/prefabrication. You ll also support sustainability initiatives, contribute to procurement planning, and help capture and share best practices across the business.

Who we re looking for

We re looking for someone with proven experience in a design or technical management role, who brings strong communication and stakeholder coordination skills. You ll have a deep understanding of design processes, construction methods, and commercial drivers, along with a passion for sustainability and innovation. Experience of high-rise PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) or BTR (Build to Rent) schemes is essential. The ability to work collaboratively across teams and disciplines is also key, as is a proactive and solution-focused mindset.

Why Choose Watkin Jones Group?

At Watkin Jones, we believe in investing in our people. Here s what we can offer you:

• Work-Life Balance: 25 days of annual leave (increasing with tenure), agile working arrangements, and discounted gym memberships.
• Wellbeing: Access to Your Wellbeing programme & OpenUp a confidential wellbeing platform.
• Rewards: Discretionary annual bonus, health cash plan, life insurance, and more.
• Benefits: Exclusive shopping discounts, and a contributory pension scheme.

This is an opportunity to take on a high-impact role within a forward-thinking company. In return, we offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and the chance to work on major projects that shape the built environment.

Watkin Jones Group is the UK s leading developer, builder, and manager of residential-for-rent homes, with a rich history dating back to 1791. With 54,000+ homes developed and in-build across over 254 schemes, we have a proven track record of success. Our operating arm, Fresh, manages over 18,500 units across 58 schemes, representing approximately £1.7bn of assets under management.

Joining us means becoming part of a company that s not only deeply rooted in history but also firmly focused on the future. We re committed to creating high-quality rental homes, fostering vibrant communities, and driving sustainable development.