Senior Design Manager

Randstad Construction & Property; Wallsend; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction and property services firm in the UK seeks a Senior Design Manager to lead design processes in large-scale civil projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in civil infrastructure, strategic experience, and a proven record of developing design strategies that meet project objectives. This role requires effective management of design teams, risk management, and compliance with industry standards.

Qualifications

• Significant involvement in developing and executing design strategy.
• Demonstrable experience with single-stage tenders and preferred terms.
• Track record in successfully winning work in bidding.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process from bid to delivery.
• Develop and implement design strategy aligned with objectives.
• Oversee coordination of multidisciplinary design teams.
• Ensure design outputs meet programme and specification.
• Manage design reviews and serve as the primary design interface.

Skills

Design leadership

Strategic vision

Multidisciplinary oversight

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Education

HND/HNC or university degree in relevant discipline

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.