Senior Design Manager

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working arrangements

Pension scheme

Annual bonus scheme

Car scheme

Private medical insurance

Cycle-to-work discounts

Job summary

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure seeks a highly experienced Senior Design Manager to lead the design aspects of tenders and ongoing projects. You will ensure design management compliance, collaborate with stakeholders, and guide the design team to deliver high‑quality outcomes on complex schemes in the Defence Nuclear sector.

The role demands strong leadership and ability to coordinate across disciplines. Responsibilities include driving the design programme, managing design partners, and ensuring

Qualifications

• HND, HNC or degree in engineering or related discipline.
• Experience developing and implementing design strategies for infrastructure or major projects.
• Strong leadership, planning and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of design processes and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design programme from concept stage and manage design partners for a complex multi-discipline scheme.
• Develop and maintain relationships with design partners and stakeholders.
• Act as main contact between design partners and construction team and prioritise project objectives.
• Develop design strategies, manage subcontracts, and oversee design reviews.
• Ensure compliance with design-management procedures and coordinate the design programme.

Skills

Senior design management

Engineering leadership

Stakeholder management

Contract management

RIBA processes

Education

HND/HNC or degree in engineering

Job description

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure delivers some of the UK’s most complex and critical infrastructure across six core sectors. From working on projects and long‑term frameworks, we believe in connecting people, places and communities through responsible infrastructure. Our people are our business. We leverage their expertise to design and deliver safe, resilient infrastructure through innovative solutions. Morgan Sindall Infrastructure is part of Morgan Sindall Group plc, a leading UK construction and regeneration group with revenue of over £3 billion.

Senior Design Manager – HMNB Clyde & Glasgow

Job Description

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Senior Design Manager to lead the design aspects of tenders and ongoing projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring effective design management, compliance with company standards, and collaboration with stakeholders to deliver high‑quality outcomes. They will play a crucial role in project planning, execution, and innovation, contributing to the successful delivery of construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design programme from the concept stage and manage design partners to deliver solutions for a complex, multi‑discipline scheme in the Defence Nuclear sector.
• Develop and maintain relationships with design partners and customer stakeholders.
• Act as the main point of contact between design partners and the construction team, balancing the needs of both and providing direction to prioritise overall project objectives.
• Understand design liabilities, develop strategies for managing them and lead the development of design subcontracts that effectively step down liabilities to appointed partners and/or the extended design and build supply chain.
• Manage the contractual relationship with design partners.
• Establish, maintain, and manage an effective project design team and resource profile during bid and delivery stages.
• Oversee and coordinate the design process through RIBA and/or client‑gated processes, ensuring innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure full compliance with design‑management procedures at bid and delivery stages.
• Develop and implement design strategy and approach for projects.
• Ensure appropriate and sustainable design resources, skill sets, and structures are put in place.
• Manage and coordinate design reviews and meetings to align design outputs with project objectives.
• Develop and maintain a fully coordinated design programme integrated with the overall project timeline.
• Monitor design progress against the programme and provide regular updates to the project team.
• Adopt a pro‑active approach to managing design progress, monitoring leading indicators and initiating corrective action where required.
• Ensure design solutions align with commercial and construction requirements while adhering to budget constraints.
• Oversee change‑control processes and ensure necessary design modifications are approved and implemented.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards and codes of practice.
• Lead a small team of Design Managers.

Essential Qualifications

• HND, HNC or degree in engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience in developing and implementing design strategies and approaches for infrastructure and/or major construction projects.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate teams.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time‑management skills.
• In‑depth knowledge of the construction industry, design processes and compliance requirements.
• Strong negotiation and diplomacy skills with the ability to present compelling business cases to senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively across business units and manage multiple projects without compromising standards.
• Candidate must have the right to work in the UK and be a sole UK national.

Desirable Qualifications

• Membership of a recognised, relevant professional institute.
• Experience in the nuclear sector or a similar highly regulated sector.

Benefits

• Generous, incremental holiday entitlement with the option to buy five days.
• Flexible and adaptable working arrangements.
• Family‑friendly policies and work/life approach.
• Mentoring programmes and continuous learning support.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Annual bonus scheme.
• Recognition scheme and long‑service awards.
• Car scheme and private medical insurance.

We offer a share‑save scheme, discounts such as cycle‑to‑work and gym memberships, plus support services for colleagues and their families.

At Morgan Sindall, we are an equal‑opportunities employer and Investors in People company, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace.

Morgan Sindall employs only those with the legal right to work in the UK. Proof of eligibility is required during the recruitment process.