Senior Design Manager

Mace; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mace Construct Limited is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design teams across aviation projects in London. You will manage design development, coordinate technical disciplines and guide projects through approvals, procurement and delivery.

Work closely with project management and construction teams to ensure designs are practical, compliant and aligned with safety, buildability and cost objectives for successful project delivery.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing design on major construction, infrastructure or aviation projects.
• Strong understanding of design management processes across the full project lifecycle.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams and coordinating multiple technical disciplines.
• Solid understanding of design risk management, change control and project governance.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships in complex project environments.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to bring diverse teams together to solve problems.
• Knowledge of construction methods and how design decisions impact delivery.
• An engineering, architecture, construction or related degree.
• A related professional qualification in construction, engineering or project management.
• A valid CSCS card or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

• Leading the design management process from project inception through to completion.
• Managing multidisciplinary design teams and specialist consultants.
• Developing and maintaining design delivery plans and design programmes.
• Coordinating design activities across all project stages.
• Managing design risks, interfaces and technical dependencies.
• Ensuring designs meet project requirements, statutory obligations and operational constraints.
• Challenging and improving designs to support safety, buildability, programme and cost objectives.
• Leading design reviews, workshops and coordination meetings.
• Managing technical approvals and stakeholder review processes.
• Working closely with project managers, commercial teams and construction teams to support successful project delivery.
• Reviewing design changes and ensuring impact assessments are completed and agreed.
• Supporting procurement activities, including consultant and contractor engagement.
• Ensuring asset information, records and handover requirements are planned and delivered.

Skills

Design management

Multidisciplinary teams

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Change control

Communication

Construction methods knowledge

BIM coordination

Project governance

Education

Engineering degree

Related discipline qualification

CSCS card or equivalent certification

Tools

BIM coordination

Job description

About The Company

At Mace Construct, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We are innovators, trusted partners, construction experts. Founded on a belief that the built environment sector could be more efficient, innovative and responsible. We've built a reputation and track record for delivering projects better than ever before: safer, faster and greener. Transforming industries, supporting communities and leaving legacies.

About The Project

Mace Construct has worked at Heathrow for more than 25 years. Over that time, its role has extended across more than 400 live frameworks and projects on a 1,227-hectare campus. Experience at that scale builds more than site knowledge. It develops an understanding of how operational, technical and stakeholder interfaces behave under pressure, and what it takes to deliver change without interrupting the system around it. Our teams have extensive, first‑hand understanding of delivering airport projects, combining exceptional commitment to safety, smart construction methods and a collaborative, client‑focused approach to ensure success. This approach has cemented long term partnerships.

About The Role

As a Senior Design Manager, you'll lead multidisciplinary design teams across a portfolio of aviation projects. You'll manage design development, coordinate technical disciplines and help guide projects through approvals, procurement and delivery. You'll work closely with project management and construction teams to make sure designs are practical, compliant and ready for delivery.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the design management process from project inception through to completion.
• Managing multidisciplinary design teams and specialist consultants.
• Developing and maintaining design delivery plans and design programmes.
• Coordinating design activities across all project stages.
• Managing design risks, interfaces and technical dependencies.
• Ensuring designs meet project requirements, statutory obligations and operational constraints.
• Challenging and improving designs to support safety, buildability, programme and cost objectives.
• Leading design reviews, workshops and coordination meetings.
• Managing technical approvals and stakeholder review processes.
• Working closely with project managers, commercial teams and construction teams to support successful project delivery.
• Reviewing design changes and ensuring impact assessments are completed and agreed.
• Supporting procurement activities, including consultant and contractor engagement.
• Ensuring asset information, records and handover requirements are planned and delivered.

What You'll Bring

• Significant experience managing design on major construction, infrastructure or aviation projects.
• Strong understanding of design management processes across the full project lifecycle.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams and coordinating multiple technical disciplines.
• A solid understanding of design risk management, change control and project governance.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships in complex project environments.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to bring diverse teams together to solve problems.
• Knowledge of construction methods and how design decisions impact delivery.
• A degree or equivalent qualification in engineering, architecture, construction or a related discipline.
• A relevant qualification in construction, engineering, project management or a related discipline.
• A valid CSCS card or equivalent certification.

Nice to have

• Experience delivering projects within an aviation environment.
• Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional institution.
• Experience working within live operational or highly regulated environments.
• Knowledge of design assurance and technical approval processes.
• Experience managing BIM coordination and digital design deliverables.

You can find more information about our culture, values, and how we reward our people here.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates.

Primary Location

GB-GB-London

Organization

Mace Construct Limited

Schedule

Regular

Job Type

Full-time