Senior Design Manager

Aldwych Consulting Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Aldwych Consulting is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design development for major infrastructure projects from early concept through delivery. You will coordinate interfaces, balance programme, cost and safety, and work closely with pre-construction, commercial and delivery teams.

Candidates should have proven pre-construction capability, strong materials knowledge (steel, RC, timber), and a professional civil/structural engineering qualification; familiarity with

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Design Manager on major infrastructure schemes.
• Strong pre-construction capability including design development and planning.
• Solid commercial understanding covering cost drivers, procurement and risk.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design interfaces and self-delivery.
• Familiarity with steel, RC, timber and other structural materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary design teams across major infrastructure projects.
• Oversee design development during pre-construction for buildability and sequencing.
• Drive design governance, compliance with standards and regulatory requirements.
• Manage design interfaces between material packages (steel, RC, timber).
• Collaborate with commercial teams to support cost plans and procurement strategy.
• Support self-delivery teams with practical design information and timely queries.
• Coordinate temporary works, construction methodology and engineering inputs.
• Maintain structured design reviews, reporting and documentation.
• Engage clients, stakeholders and supply chain partners for alignment.
• Identify risks early and implement mitigation to protect programme and cost.

Skills

Senior Design Manager

Infrastructure projects

Pre-construction

Commercial awareness

Self-delivery

Coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Digital tools

Education

Civil/Structural eng degree

Tools

Aconex

BIM 360

CDEs

Job description

Are you a Senior Design Manager with experience leading from early stage through to handover?

A senior role for an experienced Design Manager who can lead multidisciplinary design development across complex, high‑value infrastructure projects. This position suits someone with strong pre‑construction capability, commercial awareness, and a practical understanding of self‑delivery. You'll bring proven experience working with multiple materials including steel, reinforced concrete and timber, and be comfortable managing design on major, technically challenging schemes.

The Role

You will lead design development from early concept through detailed design and into delivery, ensuring all design outputs are coordinated, buildable and commercially aligned. Working closely with pre‑construction, commercial, engineering and delivery teams, you'll manage interfaces, drive clarity, and ensure design supports safe, efficient construction on site. This is a role for someone who can operate confidently in complex environments, balancing technical detail with programme, cost and delivery pressures.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary design teams across major infrastructure projects
• Oversee design development during pre‑construction, ensuring buildability, sequencing and logistics are fully considered
• Drive design assurance, technical governance and compliance with standards and regulatory requirements
• Manage design interfaces between steel, RC, timber and other material packages
• Work closely with commercial teams to ensure design supports cost plans, procurement strategy and risk management
• Support self‑delivery teams with clear, practical design information and timely resolution of technical queries
• Coordinate temporary works, construction methodology and engineering inputs
• Maintain structured design reviews, reporting and documentation
• Engage with clients, stakeholders and supply chain partners to ensure alignment and clarity
• Identify risks early and implement sensible mitigation measures to protect programme and cost

Required Experience

• Strong background as a Design Manager or Senior Design Manager on complex or major infrastructure projects
• Proven experience in pre‑construction, including design development, buildability reviews and early‑stage planning
• Solid commercial understanding, including cost drivers, procurement and risk
• Experience working with steel, reinforced concrete, timber and other structural materialsI>Knowledge of self‑delivery environments and the realities of construction execution
• Comfortable managing multidisciplinary teams and complex design interfaces
• Strong communication, coordination and reporting capability
• Relevant qualification in civil engineering, structural engineering or similar
• Familiarity with digital design tools and common platforms (Aconex, BIM 360, CDEs)
• Exposure to project controls disciplines (risk, change, cost, earned value)
• Professional membership or working towards it

What This Role Offers

A senior position with real influence over design and delivery on major infrastructure projects. You'll work in a technically challenging environment with a contractor known for engineering capability, self‑delivery strength and high‑quality execution. Strong progression opportunities and a collaborative, structured working culture.

Aldwych Consulting values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.