Design Manager- 12 months FTC

Rider Levett Bucknall; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

APC mentoring schemes

Professional membership subscriptions

Job summary

RLB is seeking a Design Manager for a 12-month fixed-term contract in Amsterdam. You will lead multi-disciplinary design activities for Data Centre projects across Europe, ensuring outputs meet client requirements, standards, programme milestones and regulatory obligations.

You will coordinate with client stakeholders, designers, contractors and internal teams through the full design lifecycle, from concept to commissioning, while upholding safety and quality.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Design Coordinator in data centre or mission-critical sectors.
• Strong MEP understanding, including HV/LV distribution and cooling systems.
• Experience coordinating across multiple RIBA stages or European equivalents.
• Ability to coordinate large multi-disciplinary teams and manage design on fast-track projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead design development across all disciplines and coordinate design workshops.
• Maintain design programmes, track deliverables, and identify risks early.
• Interface with client stakeholders, contractors and consultants for design updates.
• Ensure compliance with local building regulations and data centre standards.

Skills

Design management

MEP understanding

Multi-disciplinary coordination

Stakeholder management

Education

Professional membership (RIBA, CEng, MCIBSE, MICE, CIOB)

Tools

BIM

BIM Level 2+

Job description

Design Manager- 12 months FTC

Department: Project Management

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Amsterdam

Description

Why RLB?

At RLB, we live by four simple ideas: Truth, Trust, Together, Tomorrow. Four values that live at the heart of RLB. A place where People Make Progress.

We value your skills, talents and unique perspectives – we think they are priceless.

Bring them to RLB and you’ll be empowered to shape our future and your career in new and meaningful ways.

We’ll give you opportunities to work on some of the most ambitious and exciting projects currently being designed and developed in the built environment sector.

You’ll continue to learn and advance as everyone who works for us is provided with a tailored training programme. Our mentoring and reverse mentoring schemes will enable you to share your expertise while gaining fresh insights.

What makes RLB unique is our inclusive culture. As an independent, employee-owned business, teamwork and collaboration lies at the heart of everything we do. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies are just some of the ways we invest in employee wellbeing.

Join us and you will thrive personally as well as professionally.

Role Overview

The Design Manager will lead the coordination and delivery of multi‑disciplinary design activities for Data Centre projects across Europe. This role ensures that all design outputs meet client requirements, technical standards, programme milestones and regulatory obligations. You will act as a key interface between client stakeholders, designers, contractors and internal RLB teams across the full design lifecycle (from concept to commissioning).

Role Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Coordination

• Manage and coordinate design development across all disciplines (Architectural, Structural, CSA, MEP, Fire, Security, ICT).
• Lead design workshops, technical reviews and cross-discipline coordination meetings.
• Ensure design deliverables are aligned with Data Centre standards including Uptime Institute, ASHRAE, NFPA, EN standards and client‑specific requirements.
• Drive consistency and accuracy across drawings, specifications, schedules and BIM models.

Programme, Quality & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain design programmes, tracking deliverables and identifying risks early.
• Ensure design outputs support buildability, commissioning, phasing, and critical programme milestones.
• Oversee change control, design risk registers and decision logs.
• Lead value‑engineering exercises while protecting safety, quality and operational resilience.

Stakeholder & Client Interface

• Act as primary point of contact for design queries across client, contractor and consultant teams.
• Support client governance processes, presenting design updates, risk summaries and technical recommendations.
• Facilitate alignment between global Data Centre standards and local regulatory requirements (planning, building control, fire certification, etc.).

Technical & Compliance Oversight

Ensure compliance with:

• Local building regulations (UK, EU member states).
• Mission‑critical facility standards (cooling, UPS, generators, electrical redundancy, containment).
• Safety-in-design principles and CDM responsibilities.
• Review technical submittals, vendor designs, equipment selections and interface matrices.
• Information Management & Documentation
• Manage document control processes, design trackers and approved‑for‑construction packages.
• Ensure integration of BIM workflows and correct data exchange protocols.
• Maintain clear and accurate project records for audit, commissioning and handover.

Candidate Profile

Experience

• Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Design Coordinator in Data Centre, mission‑critical, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing or other highly technical sectors.
• Strong MEP understanding, particularly HV/LV distribution, cooling technologies, redundancy strategies and containment systems.
• Experience working across multiple RIBA stages (or European equivalents such as HOAI or SIA).
• Ability to interpret complex technical documents and coordinate large multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrable experience managing design on fast‑track or hyper‑scale Data Centre projects.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable

• Professional membership (RIBA, CEng, MCIBSE, MICE, CIOB) or working towards chartership.
• Experience working across different European jurisdictions and regulatory systems.
• Understanding of BIM Level 2+ processes and digital design collaboration platforms.
• Knowledge of hyperscale client standards

RLB Employee Benefits

Our culture is built around enabling you to fulfil your potential, so you can look forward to benefits that include:

• Hybrid Working - Working patterns to support your work‑life balance.
• Well-Rewarded - A competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement. As well as the opportunity to purchase up to five extra days.
• Personal Development - A continuous learning and development programme, including established APC and in‑house mentoring schemes.
• Additional Benefits - We offer a wide range of benefits including professional membership subscriptions.
• Exceptional Exposure - You’ll have the opportunity to work on diverse projects across different sectors and regions.
• Social Responsibility - We hold team and social events as well as charity fundraising and volunteerin​g activities.

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Promise

We believe in building a diverse and inclusive environment where each person can be themselves, feel valued for their contribution and be challenged and supported to reach their full potential. We have a responsibility to support the communities in which we live and work, and that our workforce should reflect these communities and our clients. Our talent strategy should enable us to overcome bias in the construction industry by recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce. Find out more here: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - RLB | Europe

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during any stage of the application or interview process, please contact our recruitment team at: [e-mail]