Senior Design Manager

Randstad Construction and Property; North East; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing and consultancy firm in the UK seeks a Senior Design Manager. You will drive design excellence for tenders and live projects, ensuring compliance with project goals and technical standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in managing large-scale civil projects, with experience in developing design strategies and winning bids. This role includes leading multidisciplinary teams and implements process improvements throughout the design lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Significant involvement in developing and executing design strategy.
• Demonstrable experience in single-stage tenders.
• A track record of winning work through bidding.

Responsibilities

• Manage the entire design process from bid submission to project delivery.
• Develop design strategy aligned with project objectives.
• Oversee multidisciplinary design teams' coordination.

Skills

Design Leadership

Strategic Vision

Stakeholder Management

Process Improvement

Education

HND/HNC or relevant university degree

Membership in an industry-recognised professional institute

Job description

As the Senior Design Manager, you will be the driving force behind the design excellence for our tenders and live projects.

Your primary responsibility is to seamlessly manage the design lifecycle, ensuring strategic alignment, technical compliance, and timely delivery.

A robust background in civil infrastructure is essential for this role. While experience within the Water sector is beneficial, your core expertise should lie in managing large‑scale civil projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Leadership: Lead and manage the entire design process, from initial bid submission through to project delivery, ensuring the optimal allocation of resources, skills, and team structure.
• Strategic Vision: Develop and implement a comprehensive design strategy that is fully aligned with project objectives, commercial requirements, and sustainability goals.
• Multidisciplinary Oversight: Oversee the coordination of multidisciplinary design teams, ensuring strict compliance with all RIBA stages, relevant legislation, and industry standards.
• Performance Control: Ensure all design outputs rigorously meet the project programme, cost plan, and defined specifications through regular reviews and controlled updates.
• Stakeholder & Risk Management: Manage design reviews, implement robust change control processes, and serve as the primary design interface with key stakeholders, including clients, contractors, and statutory bodies.
• Process Improvement: Maintain rigorous adherence to internal design management procedures while championing continuous improvement and innovation throughout the design lifecycle.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Education: Hold an HND/HNC or a university degree in a relevant discipline.
• Professional Affiliation: Membership in an industry‑recognised professional institute (e.g., CIOB).
• Strategic Experience: Significant involvement in developing and executing design strategy and approach.
• Procurement Routes: Demonstrable experience working across both single‑stage tenders and preferred‑terms work procurement routes.
• Commercial Success: A track record of actively participating in bidding and successfully winning work.

Randstad CPE 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 more than 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.