Senior Design Manager - BC, CANADA

Contract Scotland; Greater London; On-site; GBP 92,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction and design firm in Canada is seeking a Senior Design Manager to oversee design teams on major build projects. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with design policies, managing risk, and leading a team to deliver high-quality design solutions. This role offers a competitive salary up to CAD 200K, alongside comprehensive benefits and relocation assistance for the right candidate.

Benefits

Base salary up to CAD 200K

VISA & Relocation assistance

Share Scheme

5-week vacation

Dental & Health Cover

Pension Contribution

Qualifications

• Experience in managing design teams on large projects.
• Track record of overseeing design compliance and contractual obligations.
• Proficiency in coordinating design efforts with other teams.

Responsibilities

• Ensure design policy compliance and best practices are followed.
• Manage design team and coordinate with various project teams.
• Monitor and ensure quality of design documents.

Skills

Design management

Risk management

Compliance monitoring

Team leadership

Quality control

Job description

Senior Design Manager - Major Build Projects - Vancouver or Toronto

Employment Type : Permanent FT (CAN)

Workplace Type : Office

Why Move to Canada?

Canada continues to rank among the world’s most liveable countries — known for its stability, safety, and world-class quality of life. With a strong economy, universal healthcare, and diverse culture, it’s an ideal destination for professionals looking to advance their careers while building a meaningful life. From thriving urban centers to pristine natural landscapes, Canada offers a rare balance of opportunity and well-being — making it the perfect setting for the next chapter of your leadership journey.

Summary

Reporting to the Design Director, the Design Manager is responsible for contributing to the development of the Design team while ensuring procedures and best practices are followed. The incumbent manages and provides input into the design process with respect to initial strategy and developing the overarching design philosophy and is accountable for ensuring the Design team is meeting compliance and contractual obligations, as well as identifying, managing, and mitigating risk. This includes meeting with the owner or other stakeholders to advance the design in compliance with the contract requirements and chairing the meetings Design team and the owner, guiding the process to ensure Graham is meeting the clients’ needs and the designers are delivering a minimally-complaint, cost-effective solution. The incumbent is responsible for management of Design Specialists and Design Coordinators on multiple projects, as well as for management of the project. The incumbent also manages the ESDC (Engineering Services During Construction) process during project execution.

Essential Functions

• Ensure that design policies and procedures are followed.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the design policy and procedures.
• Ensure the team is meeting the compliance and contractual obligations and notify the team of any risks.
• Monitor ongoing design efforts to ensure minimal compliance and most cost-effective design.
• Manage the time of the direct reports.
• Interface with other members of the Bid team or Project Execution team to ensure design effort is coordinated with all other efforts.
• Ensure the Design team is meeting all contractual obligations.
• Monitor for minimal compliance, including area checks, efficiency of the layout (corridors, electrical), and gross up factors.
• Monitor clash-detection processes for design and ensure deliverables are submitted on time both to us and to the client.
• Meet and ensure the quality of the design documents.
• Audit the design documents against requirements, ensuring they are complete and meet quality standards.
• Notify the Commercial team of any contract variances to the performance specifications and variances to the original budget.
• Contribute to the Design Management of a project.
• Provide support to the Project Director / Manager and the Project Execution team as required.
• Follow the Graham Management Systems (GMS) for preconstruction activities and the Design Management Plan for project execution, ensuring compliance.
• Ensure noncompliance issues are tracked and provided to the Commercial team.
• Ensure all the Design team is meeting their deliverables on the dates set.
• Ensure that the architects’ deliverables meet the definition of that phase of drawings.
• Ensure the quality control plan is followed by the Design team.
• Work collaboratively with the Construction team to ensure constructability concerns are addressed.
• Ensure contractual obligations are met.
• Minimize changes to the designers and maintain efficiency in the planning process.
• Ensure proper management of design risk.
• Ensure performance specifications are met.
• Manage the number of hours of the team.

Benefits & Incentives

• For the right candidate, base salary up to CAD 200K
• VISA & Relocation assistance
• Share Scheme
• 5-week vacation
• Dental & Health Cover
• Pension Contribution