Senior Design Manager

Stratus Search & Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Stratus Search & Recruitment is recruiting a Senior Design Manager to lead the design process on a major healthcare scheme in Buckinghamshire, working within a Tier One contractor environment. You will coordinate architects, engineers and subcontractors to deliver fully coordinated, buildable design solutions that meet programme and quality targets.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing multidisciplinary teams on large hospital projects, with a strong understanding of UK

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Design Manager within Tier One contractor or complex construction environment.
• Experience delivering large-scale healthcare projects, hospitals or acute facilities.
• Strong knowledge of architectural, structural and building services design coordination.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams on major projects.
• Understanding of design programming, procurement interfaces, construction sequencing and buildability.
• Knowledge of UK building regulations and healthcare design standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process from pre-construction through to completion.
• Coordinate the design team including architects, structural engineers, and MEP consultants.
• Manage the design programme aligning with procurement, sequencing and milestones.
• Chair design team meetings, workshops and technical reviews; drive actions to resolution.
• Ensure design information is coordinated, accurate, and issued on time.
• Support subcontractor appointments, tender reviews and design solution development.
• Identify and resolve design clashes, buildability challenges ahead of construction.
• Manage design risk, change control and impact on programme, cost and quality.
• Ensure compliance with building regs, healthcare standards and project specs.
• Liaise with client, end users, clinical stakeholders and external consultants.
• Oversee design information management including drawings registers and RFIs.
• Work with construction team to resolve issues and avoid on-site delays.
• Promote collaborative, solutions-focused approach across teams.
• Support QA, commissioning and handover activities.

Skills

Senior Design Manager

Healthcare projects

Design coordination

Multidisciplinary leadership

Stakeholder management

Programme management

Job description

We are working in partnership with a leading Tier One Main Contractor to recruit an experienced Senior Design Manager to join the team delivering a major £300m hospital project in Buckinghamshire.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in the delivery of a complex, high-value healthcare development, working within an established project team on a landmark scheme. The successful candidate will take responsibility for managing and coordinating the design process from pre-construction through to delivery, ensuring design solutions meet the project’s technical, commercial, programme and quality requirements.

The role will involve close collaboration with the client, consultants, specialist subcontractors and internal delivery teams to ensure the design is fully coordinated, buildable and aligned with the overall project objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process throughout the project lifecycle, from pre-construction through to construction and completion.
• Coordinate the design team, including architects, structural engineers, building services consultants and specialist subcontractors.
• Manage the design programme, ensuring deliverables are aligned with procurement, construction sequencing and key project milestones.
• Chair and lead design team meetings, workshops and technical reviews, driving actions through to resolution.
• Ensure design information is coordinated, accurate, complete and issued in line with the agreed programme.
• Work closely with the commercial and procurement teams to support subcontractor appointments, technical tender reviews and the development of design solutions.
• Identify and resolve design clashes, technical issues and buildability challenges ahead of construction.
• Manage design risk, change control and the impact of design development on programme, cost and quality.
• Ensure compliance with relevant building regulations, statutory requirements, healthcare standards and the project’s technical specifications.
• Liaise with the client, end users, clinical stakeholders and external consultants to ensure the design meets operational and functional requirements.
• Support the integration and coordination of building services, structural and architectural design, particularly in technically complex clinical areas.
• Oversee the management of design information, including drawing registers, technical submissions, RFIs and design deliverables.
• Work closely with the construction team to ensure design issues are resolved promptly and do not adversely affect progress on site.
• Promote a collaborative, solutions-focused approach across the design and delivery teams.
• Support quality assurance, commissioning and handover activities, ensuring the required design information and documentation are completed.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience working as a Design Manager within a Tier One main contractor or a similarly complex construction environment.
• Experience delivering large-scale healthcare projects, ideally hospitals or acute healthcare facilities.
• Strong technical knowledge of architectural, structural and building services design coordination.
• Demonstrable experience managing multidisciplinary design teams on major construction projects.
• A strong understanding of design programming, procurement interfaces, construction sequencing and buildability.
• Knowledge of current UK building regulations, statutory approvals and relevant healthcare design standards.
• Experience managing design risk, technical compliance, change control and design deliverables.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and drive design issues to resolution within a demanding project environment.
• A proactive and commercially aware approach, with a strong focus on programme, quality and successful project delivery.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a technically strong and delivery-focused Senior Design Manager who has the experience and confidence to manage design on a major healthcare scheme. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working within a Tier One contractor environment, engaging with senior stakeholders and driving multidisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated, compliant and buildable design solutions.

Candidates with experience on major acute hospital developments, complex clinical environments or other large-scale healthcare schemes will be particularly well suited to this opportunity.