Senior Design Manager

Sphere Solutions; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Car allowance

Annual bonus

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Generous leave entitlement

Professional development

Opportunity to lead landmark project

Job summary

Sphere Solutions is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the design delivery of a £40 million project near Gloucester, coordinating with architects, engineers and contractors on a major construction scheme.

You will oversee the design through pre-construction to completion, ensuring buildability, quality and timely issue of drawings while engaging with stakeholders and clients for success.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Design Manager with UK main contractor experience.
• Strong track record delivering medium-large construction projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams.
• Excellent knowledge of construction methodologies and buildability.
• Solid understanding of design coordination, programme management and project delivery.
• Experience using common design/document management systems (Viewpoint/Asite/Aconex).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Construction-related qualification (HNC/HND/Degree or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process throughout the project lifecycle.
• Act as the Design Lead on a £40m construction scheme.
• Coordinate consultant teams, architects, engineers, and subcontractors.
• Chair design team meetings and drive progress against milestones.
• Review design information for quality, compliance and buildability.
• Manage design information flow to site with timely coordinated drawings.
• Collaborate with commercial and construction teams to resolve technical challenges.
• Ensure statutory approvals and Building Regulations compliance.
• Identify and manage design risks and opportunities.
• Maintain clear client and stakeholder communication.

Skills

Design Management

Construction Leadership

Multidisciplinary Design Teams

Buildability & Value Engineering

Design Coordination

Programme Management

Document Management Systems

Education

Degree in Construction/Engineering

HNC/HND/Equivalent

Tools

Viewpoint

Asite

Aconex

Job description

Design Manager - Major Construction Project | Gloucestershire | £40m Project

Design Manager - Main Contractor

Location: Near Gloucester, Gloucestershire

Salary: Competitive + Car Allowance + Bonus + Excellent Benefits

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Design Manager Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Design Manager to join a leading UK construction contractor and take the lead on the design delivery of a £40 million construction project near Gloucester.

This is a key leadership role where you will act as the Design Lead for the project, managing the design process from pre-construction through to project completion. Working closely with the Project Director, commercial and delivery teams, you will ensure that design information is coordinated, compliant, buildable, and delivered on programme.

This role would suit a Design Manager with experience delivering complex construction projects for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 main contractor, ideally within the commercial, education, healthcare, defence, industrial, or public sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process throughout the project lifecycle.
• Act as the Design Lead on a £40m construction scheme.
• Coordinate consultant teams, architects, engineers, and specialist subcontractors.
• Chair design team meetings and drive design progress against programme milestones.
• Review design information for quality, compliance, buildability, and value engineering opportunities.
• Manage the flow of design information to the site team, ensuring timely issue of coordinated drawings.
• Work collaboratively with the commercial and construction teams to resolve technical challenges.
• Ensure statutory approvals, planning conditions, and Building Regulations requirements are achieved.
• Identify and manage design risks and opportunities.
• Maintain excellent communication with the client and all project stakeholders.

About You

To be considered, you will ideally have:

• Proven experience as a Design Manager working for a UK main contractor.
• A strong track record delivering medium to large-scale construction projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams.
• Excellent knowledge of construction methodologies and buildability.
• Strong understanding of design coordination, programme management, and project delivery.
• Experience using common document management systems such as Viewpoint, Asite, Aconex or similar.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A construction-related qualification (HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent) in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering or a related discipline.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Car allowance.
• Annual bonus.
• Private healthcare.
• Pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Ongoing professional development and career progression.
• Opportunity to lead the design on a landmark £40m project from start to finish.

Why Apply?

This is an outstanding opportunity to join one of the UK's most respected construction businesses and play a pivotal role in the successful delivery of a major project near Gloucester. You'll have genuine ownership of the design function, working alongside an experienced project team on a high-profile scheme with excellent long-term career prospects.