Senior Design Manager

Willmott Dixon; Hitchin; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced pension scheme

Private medical

Life assurance

Sustainable car scheme

Job summary

Willmott Dixon seeks a Senior Design Manager in Hitchin to lead the design process across education, leisure, transport, blue light, commercial and residential sectors. You will drive collaboration between architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical disciplines and manage consultants to programme milestones.

The role requires preconstruction experience, strong leadership, and the ability to deliver innovative, cost-effective technical solutions while mentoring junior staff and

Qualifications

• Experience leading design on complex projects across sectors.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements for construction design.
• Proven ability to manage consultants and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design process across multi-disciplinary teams and manage information flow.
• Oversee appointment and performance of consultants per scope of services.
• Develop design programmes with consultants to meet milestones.
• Deliver cost-effective, innovative technical solutions.
• Chair design team meetings and drive actions to completion.
• Ensure designs meet statutory approvals with thorough documentation.
• Mentor junior design management staff and provide technical leadership.
• Collaborate to support a robust project pipeline and culture.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Design coordination

Multi-disciplinary

Project delivery

Communication skills

Mentoring

Architectural knowledge

Education

Construction-related degree

CIOB membership

CSCS card

Valid driving licence

Tools

Microsoft Project

Bluebeam

MS Office

Job description

Are you ready to lead the design process on some of the most exciting and innovative projects in the region? Willmott Dixon is seeking a Senior Design Manager, based out of our Hitchin office, you’ll enjoy a hybrid working model with time split between the office, home, and projects.

As a Senior Design Manager, you’ll take ownership of the design process, fostering collaboration across disciplines and driving project success. Leading the design on projects ranging from £10m to £100m across the following sectors: Education, Leisure, Transport, Blue Light, Commercial and Residential. You’ll oversee, monitor, and report on design programmes, ensuring high-quality outputs that align with project goals and budgets.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the design process to produce accurate information that meets agreed specifications and cost plans.
• Managing the appointment and performance of consultants in line with their deed and agreed scope of services.
• Developing a design programme with consultants to meet whole-life programme milestones.
• Delivering cost-effective, innovative technical solutions.
• Chairing design team meetings and driving action plans to completion.
• Ensuring designs meet all statutory and regulatory approvals, with comprehensive tracking and documentation.
• Developing, mentoring and coaching junior members of the design management team.
• Offering technical leadership to the business.

With a robust pipeline of projects and a transparent outlook, you’ll have the confidence that you’re joining a stable business with a fantastic culture.

About You

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and has a passion for innovative construction solutions. Key skills and attributes include:

• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to manage complex, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience in developing and managing design programmes.
• Knowledge of statutory and regulatory requirements relevant to construction design.
• The ability to produce cost-effective and creative technical solutions.
• Preconstruction experience is essential.
• Working knowledge of the wider construction industry, its challenges and future direction.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Technical knowledge of construction design principles, practices, and systems, including architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical disciplines.
• Ability to work within a team environment.
• Able to use Microsoft suite of office programmes including Excel, Word, Outlook and Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, use appropriate software to review 3D models.
• Working towards CIOB or another related professional membership.
• Construction related degree.
• Valid driving licence.
• Appropriate CSCS card.

Additional Information

In return we reward our people generously with a competitive package that gives you flexible benefits to fit your lifestyle and priorities. This includes but is not limited to an enhanced pension scheme, private medical, life assurance, incentive bonus and access to a market-leading sustainable car scheme.

At Willmott Dixon we provide an inclusive and flexible working environment for people to thrive in and we are happy to support agile working wherever possible. We are a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme.

About Us

With over 170 years of history, Willmott Dixon is a privately owned business with a purpose beyond profit — delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment for future generations. In 2025, we were recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 Big Companies to Work For, ranked in the Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times, and became the first major contractor and developer to win a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.