Senior Design Manager

Senior Design Manager – Bristol

Location: Bristol / South West

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Job Type: Permanent

Sector: Construction / Building / Design Management

Senior Design Manager – Bristol

Are you an experienced Senior Design Manager looking for your next challenge in the construction industry?

We are working with a leading UK principal contractor to recruit a Senior Design Manager in Bristol, with an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to progress into a Design Team Lead position as the business continues to grow.

This is a senior role within a high-performing construction environment, working across major building projects and collaborating closely with clients, consultants, subcontractors, project teams and internal design teams.

If you are an experienced Design Manager, Senior Design Manager or Design Team Leader with a strong understanding of construction design, CDM 2015, buildability and design risk management, this could be an excellent opportunity to take the next step in your career.

The Role

As Senior Design Manager, you will take a leading role in the successful development and delivery of design across projects and bids.

You will be responsible for managing the design process, ensuring designs are delivered efficiently, safely and in line with project requirements, construction programmes and commercial objectives.

Key responsibilities will include:

Lead and manage the design process in accordance with the company's Building Management System.

Manage relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, project teams and design teams.

Lead the development and coordination of design solutions throughout pre-construction and project delivery.

Identify, manage and mitigate design risks while maximising opportunities.

Ensure compliance with CDM 2015 and the principles of prevention and safety in design.

Support the selection and appointment of competent designers and consultants.

Develop consultant scopes, responsibilities and fee schedules.

Develop design programmes alongside the project Planner.

Manage and monitor Information Release Schedules and design deliverables.

Coordinate statutory and third-party processes, including Planning, Building Control and BREEAM.

Monitor design progress, quality and compliance against project requirements.

Undertake site inspections to ensure the completed works meet the required design criteria.

Support the management of design change and its commercial impact.

Challenge designs where necessary to improve buildability, sequencing and construction methodology.

Work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure design solutions support successful project delivery.

About You

We are looking for an experienced construction professional with a strong background in design management and a genuine interest in leading teams and developing design capability.

You will ideally have:

Significant experience as a Senior Design Manager or experienced Design Manager within a main contractor environment.

Strong knowledge and practical experience of CDM 2015.

A good understanding of health, safety and design responsibilities.

The ability to read, understand and manage design and construction programmes.

Strong knowledge of construction methodology and buildability.

Experience identifying and managing design risk.

Commercial awareness and experience managing design change.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

The confidence to challenge design solutions where they may affect buildability, programme, cost or quality.

The ability to develop ideas and communicate complex information clearly to senior stakeholders.

Most importantly, you will be someone who wants to lead, influence and develop a design function, with the potential to progress into a Design Team Lead role.

Career Progression

This is more than simply another Senior Design Manager position.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility within the design function, with a potential career path towards Design Team Lead and broader design leadership responsibilities.

You will join an established construction business with a substantial order book and the stability of a major UK principal contractor, while having the opportunity to work on complex and high-profile projects across the South West.

Why Apply?

You will be joining a business with a strong reputation for delivering complex construction projects across sectors including:

Education

Healthcare

Defence

Custodial and judicial

Commercial

Urban living

The role offers the opportunity to work alongside experienced project and design professionals while developing your own leadership capability.

The business also provides:

Career development and leadership training

Structured professional development

Flexible and agile working opportunities where appropriate

Wellbeing support through an established employee wellbeing programme

Opportunities to work on a diverse range of major construction projects

Long-term career progression within a growing construction business

Apply Now

If you are an experienced Senior Design Manager in Bristol or the wider South West and are looking for a role offering genuine progression into Design Team Leadership, we'd be keen to hear from you.

Applications are welcomed from candidates with relevant main contractor, construction, design management and project delivery experience.

You don't need to meet every requirement to apply. If you have strong design management experience and believe you could make the step into a senior leadership position, we would be interested in speaking with you.

Keywords: Senior Design Manager, Design Manager, Design Team Lead, Design Management, Construction, Main Contractor, Building Construction, Bristol, South West, CDM 2015, Design Risk, Buildability, Pre-Construction, Construction Management, Project Delivery, Design Leadership, BREEAM, Building Control, Planning, Construction Jobs Bristol.