Senior Design Manager

tdm recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,500 - 104,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus scheme

Private healthcare and comprehensive benefits

Opportunity to establish a new design division

Job summary

A construction contractor specializing in mid to high-rise residential blocks is seeking a Senior Design Manager in Central London. The ideal candidate will lead design delivery, establish processes, and manage teams while ensuring compliance with high-rise regulations. With a salary of up to £95,000, this role offers an excellent opportunity for impact and development in a growing design division. Ideal for candidates with strong leadership skills and experience in residential contracting.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Senior Design Manager in residential main contracting.
• Comprehensive knowledge of high-rise building regulations.
• Strong understanding of Building Safety Act 2022.
• Experience with Gateway 2 submissions.

Responsibilities

• Lead design delivery for residential developments in Central London.
• Establish design processes and best practices.
• Manage design teams and coordinate with architects and engineers.
• Ensure compliance with Gateway 2 submissions.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Team building

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or Construction Management

Job description

Senior Design Manager

We're recruiting a Senior Design Manager that will help establish and grow the design division from the ground up for a contractor that specialises in mid to high‑rise mixed residential blocks across Central London.

The senior design manager will play a pivotal role in building the design function for a contractor specialising in mid to high‑rise mixed residential blocks across Central London. Working on complex schemes, you’ll need comprehensive knowledge of high‑rise building regulations, Building Safety Act requirements, and Gateway processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading design delivery across mid to high‑rise residential developments in Central London
• Establishing design processes, standards, and best practices for the new division
• Managing design teams and coordinating with architects, engineers, and consultants
• Ensuring compliance with Gateway 2 submissions and BSR requirements
• Managing design programmes and critical‑path activities across multiple projects
• Leading Building Safety Act compliance and high‑rise regulatory requirements
• Coordinating design information with construction, commercial, and planning teams
• Managing design risks, value engineering, and buildability reviews
• Building relationships with housing associations and developer clients
• Recruiting, mentoring, and developing design team members
• Contributing to business development and growth strategy

The ideal candidate has:

• Extensive experience as a Senior Design Manager in residential main contracting
• Comprehensive knowledge of high‑rise building regulations (essential)
• Strong understanding of Building Safety Act 2022 and BSR requirements (essential)
• Experience with Gateway 2 submissions and regulatory compliance (essential)
• Proven track record on mid to high‑rise residential projects
• Excellent leadership and team‑building capabilities
• Strategic thinker who can establish processes and grow divisions
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working with housing associations advantageous
• Degree qualified in Architecture, Engineering, or Construction Management

What’s on offer:

• Excellent salary of up to £95,000
• Performance‑related bonus scheme
• Private healthcare and comprehensive benefits
• Opportunity to establish and grow a new design division
• Work on mid to high‑rise residential schemes across Central London
• Genuine influence over team development and division growth
• Progressive contractor with ambitious growth plans
• Career‑defining leadership opportunity

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Design, Project Management, and Administrative