Strategic Design Leader – Multi-Scheme & High-Rise

United Infrastructure Ltd; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

United Infrastructure is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead and coordinate design across multiple residential and mixed-use schemes in the UK. You will mentor Design Managers, drive compliant, buildable solutions, and ensure designs meet programme, budget, and planning requirements.

You will chair design coordination meetings, review consultant performance, and push best practice across the business while maintaining strict health, safety, and statutory standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience at a senior design management level across multiple residential or mixed-use projects.
• Strong leadership with mentoring experience for Design Managers.
• Ability to operate across strategic (multi-project oversight, bids) and project-level delivery.
• Extensive knowledge of design management processes across bid, pre-construction, construction, handover.
• Strong technical understanding of building design, coordination, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent communication to influence at all levels (internal teams, clients, consultants).
• Up-to-date knowledge of Building Safety Act and related regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across multiple projects, supporting Senior Design Managers and Design Managers in delivering coordinated, compliant, and buildable design solutions.
• Act as escalation point for technical and design issues across all schemes, driving timely resolution and risk mitigation.
• Lead and coordinate technical input into bids, including design appraisals, programme development, consultant strategies, risk identification, and value engineering opportunities.
• Support the Head of Technical to ensure consistency of design management practices, standards, and procedures.
• Provide oversight of design programmes across multiple schemes, aligning with overall business and project objectives.
• Mentor and develop Senior Design Managers and Design Managers.
• Review and challenge design information to ensure compliance with legislation, standards, planning approvals, and client requirements.
• Coordinate with Commercial, Operations, and Bid teams to ensure design solutions are practical, cost-effective, and aligned with delivery strategies.
• Promote best practice in design coordination, including fire safety, structural integrity, MEP integration, façade design, and maintenance strategies.
• Carry out site visits as required to support project teams and resolve technical issues.

Skills

Leadership

Design management

Bid input

Mentoring

Risk mitigation

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Problem solving

Job description

United Infrastructure is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead and coordinate design across multiple residential and mixed-use schemes in the UK. You will mentor Design Managers, drive compliant, buildable solutions, and ensure designs meet programme, budget, and planning requirements.

You will chair design coordination meetings, review consultant performance, and push best practice across the business while maintaining strict health, safety, and statutory standards.