Senior Design Manager

SWG Group; Welshpool; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Competitive salary and benefits

Car allowance

Direct access to Directors

Job summary

SWG Group is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead design on pre-construction and live projects, setting standards and managing risk across a £500k to £7m portfolio.

Based in the UK with a flexible hybrid arrangement (office/site/remote), this permanent role offers a competitive salary and extensive benefits.

You will coordinate with external consultants, lead design teams, and ensure compliance under JCT Design & Build and NEC contracts.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Senior Design Manager or Design Manager within a main contractor environment.
• Strong working knowledge of JCT Design & Build and NEC forms of contract.
• Proven ability to manage and coordinate design on projects of varying scale and complexity.
• Practical, delivery-focused mindset with strong construction knowledge.
• Commercially aware and confident in managing design risk and change.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process from pre-construction through to practical completion
• Take overall responsibility for design coordination under JCT Design & Build and NEC contracts
• Act as the senior point of contact for external consultants, designers and specialist subcontractors
• Ensure design solutions are appropriate, compliant and commercially aligned across projects ranging from £500k to £7m
• Chair and lead design team and technical coordination meetings
• Review, interrogate and challenge design information to ensure buildability and constructability, cost and risk control

Skills

Senior Design Manager experience

JCT Design & Build knowledge

NEC contracts knowledge

Design coordination

Stakeholder management

Autonomous working

Construction industry knowledge

Education

Degree in Construction Management / Architecture / Engineering

Job description

Location: Welshpool, Powys (hybrid – office, site & remote)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: Circa £70K, commensurate with experience + benefits + car allowance

About the Role

We are a well-established regional main contractor with a turnover of £20m, delivering diverse public and private sector projects across the Midlands. Our project portfolio spans from smaller technical schemes (circa £500k) through to larger, complex developments of up to £7m.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to take ownership of our design function across both pre-construction and live projects. This is the most senior design role within the business, carrying responsibility for setting standards, managing risk, and ensuring consistent design delivery across our varied portfolio.

This role suits a seasoned contractor-side Design Manager who can scale their approach—providing proportionate design control on smaller schemes whilst leading robust coordination on larger, more complex projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process from pre-construction through to practical completion
• Take overall responsibility for design coordination under JCT Design & Build and NEC contracts
• Act as the senior point of contact for external consultants, designers and specialist subcontractors
• Ensure design solutions are appropriate, compliant and commercially aligned across projects ranging from £500k to £7m
• Chair and lead design team and technical coordination meetings
• Review, interrogate and challenge design information to ensure:
• Buildability and constructability
• Cost and risk control
• Manage design risk, design change processes and information release schedules
• Work closely with Commercial and Construction teams to ensure design intent is delivered on site
• Support procurement of design-led and specialist packages
• Oversee handover information, as-built records and O&M documentation
• Develop and maintain proportionate design management procedures suitable for projects of all scales

About You

• Significant experience as a Senior Design Manager or Design Manager within a main contractor environment
• Strong working knowledge of JCT Design & Build and NEC forms of contract
• Proven ability to manage and coordinate design on projects of varying scale and complexity
• Practical, delivery-focused mindset with strong construction knowledge
• Commercially aware and confident in managing design risk and change
• Able to operate as the senior design authority, providing clear direction to consultants and project teams
• Comfortable working autonomously and engaging directly with senior management
• Degree or equivalent in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering or related discipline
• Chartered status or working towards chartership (CIOB, RIBA, ICE or similar)

What We Offer

• A senior, trusted role with genuine influence over design delivery
• Varied workload across multiple sectors and project sizes
• Direct access to Directors and decision-makers
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Long-term career stability within a growing regional contractor

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We value diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We are managing this recruitment process directly and are not working with recruitment agencies for this position. Agency submissions will not be considered.