Senior Design Manager

Fawkes & Reece Group; Soho; On-site; IDR 2,158,273,000 - 2,877,698,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece Group is seeking a Senior Design Manager to own the design process across two to three live projects, collaborating with project teams, clients and specialist subcontractors to ensure delivery.

The role focuses on complex commercial refurbishment, heritage restoration and cut-and-carve projects, offering technical variety and high buildability requirements. Strong leadership and stakeholder skills are essential for project success.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Design Manager with a main contractor.
• Strong background in commercial refurbishment or heritage projects.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and large multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Proactive approach to buildability and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process from pre-construction to project completion.
• Oversee design coordination across multiple projects to meet programme, budget and quality.
• Manage multidisciplinary consultants, architects and specialist subcontractors.
• Drive buildability reviews and resolve technical problems.
• Coordinate with commercial and site teams to resolve design challenges.
• Monitor design programmes, approvals and statutory compliance.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and supply chain.

Skills

Design management

Stakeholder management

Multidisciplinary coordination

Buildability & problem-solving

Heritage refurbishment

Communication

Job description

Fawkes & Reece are presenting an excellent opportunity for a Senior Design Manager to join an established construction contractor with a strong reputation for delivering complex, high-quality projects across London.

The business has a long-standing heritage in the construction industry, specialising in technically challenging refurbishment, heritage and commercial schemes. With a strong pipeline of secured and upcoming work, they are continuing to build on their reputation for quality, and successful project delivery.

The Role

As Senior Design Manager, you will take ownership of the design process across two to three live projects at any one time, working closely with project teams, consultants, clients and specialist subcontractors to ensure successful delivery.

The portfolio will focus on complex commercial refurbishment, heritage restoration and cut-and-carve projects, providing plenty of technical variety and the opportunity to work on buildings where design coordination and buildability are critical.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process from pre-construction through to project completion.
• Oversee design coordination across multiple projects, ensuring deliverables align with programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Manage multidisciplinary consultants, architects and specialist subcontractors.
• Drive buildability reviews, technical problem-solving and design risk management.
• Coordinate closely with commercial and site teams to resolve technical challenges.
• Monitor design programmes, approvals, technical submissions and statutory compliance.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and the wider supply chain.

About You

• Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Design Manager with a main contractor.
• Strong background in commercial refurbishment, heritage, restoration or cut-and-carve projects.
• Comfortable overseeing multiple projects and coordinating large multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong technical knowledge, with a proactive approach to buildability and problem-solving.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

What's on Offer?

• A strong pipeline of secured and forthcoming projects.
• A varied portfolio of technically challenging commercial and heritage schemes.
• A well-established business with a strong industry reputation and longstanding client relationships.
• A senior position offering autonomy, responsibility and long-term career potential.
• Competitive salary and package, dependent on experience.