Senior / Design Manager

Design Manager – Major Data Centre Delivery Location: UK & EMEA (multiple locations – hybrid/site-based options considered) Sector: Data Centre Construction / Mission-Critical Infrastructure Rate/Salary: Competitive – DOE (Depending on Experience) Right to Work: Right to work in the UK or relevant EMEA jurisdiction preferred; all visa/sponsorship statuses will be considered for the right candidate

The Role Our client is a fast-scaling data centre delivery specialist across the UK and EMEA, delivering hyperscale, colocation, and mission-critical projects for leading digital infrastructure clients. As delivery ramps up across multiple concurrent schemes, they're strengthening their design function with a Design Manager.

This is a chance to own design delivery on live data centre projects — coordinating consultants, resolving technical queries, and keeping design information moving in step with procurement and construction, working closely with project directors and client stakeholders throughout.

Ideal for someone with a strong data centre or mission-critical design management track record, comfortable managing multi-disciplinary design teams under programme pressure.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the design process across CSA, M&E, and controls/BMS disciplines, keeping deliverables aligned to the construction programme.
• Act as the main point of contact between the client, design consultants, and construction teams.
• Lead design reviews, ensuring designs are compliant, coordinated, and buildable across disciplines.
• Resolve design queries and RFIs raised by the construction team, keeping technical clarifications moving.
• Track design deliverable schedules against procurement and construction milestones.
• Lead value engineering and design change management, assessing cost and programme impact.
• Ensure designs meet client requirements and relevant local/EU standards.
• Chair design coordination meetings and report progress to senior stakeholders.
• Support production of as-built documentation and O&M manuals with the design team.
• Manage design-related risk, flagging and mitigating cost or programme impacts early.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Design Manager on data centre or other mission-critical construction projects.
• Strong technical background across CSA and/or M&E design disciplines.
• Experience managing design consultants and multi-disciplinary design information on large-scale sites.
• Familiarity with UK and/or EU design standards and building codes, or strong equivalent international experience.
• Excellent coordination, technical review, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Relevant qualification (Architecture, Engineering degree, or equivalent technical background).
• Willingness to travel across UK and EMEA project locations as required.
• English language proficiency essential; additional European languages advantageous but not essential.

What's on Offer

• Ownership of design delivery on major hyperscale and mission-critical projects for globally recognised end clients.
• Competitive salary and package, dependent on experience.
• Long-term opportunity with a business in genuine growth phase across the UK and EMEA.
• All visa statuses considered for the right candidate — support and guidance provided where possible.

To apply, please submit your CV, or contact us for a confidential discussion about the role.