Role: Design Manager

Location: Bedford

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead and coordinate the design process across construction projects, from pre-construction through to completion.

You will take ownership of design delivery, managing consultants, specialist subcontractors and multidisciplinary design packages to ensure information is coordinated, compliant and issued in line with project programmes, budgets and quality requirements.

Working closely with the project management and construction teams, you will drive technical coordination, resolve design issues and ensure all design information is accurate, buildable and aligned with the overall construction strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Management: Lead the design process throughout pre-construction and construction, managing design programmes, Information Required Schedules (IRS) and key deliverables.
• Consultant Management: Coordinate and manage design consultants and specialist subcontractors, ensuring information is delivered to the required standard and within agreed timescales.
• Technical Coordination: Oversee design packages covering substructure, superstructure, civils, building envelope, M&E and fit-out, ensuring designs are fully coordinated and suitable for construction.
• Design Review & Risk: Review drawings, specifications and technical submissions, identifying design clashes, buildability issues and technical risks before they impact programme or cost.
• Construction Support: Manage RFIs, technical submissions, design changes and consultant responses, working closely with site teams to resolve technical queries and maintain progress.
• Compliance & Approvals: Coordinate Building Control actions, planning condition discharges and statutory requirements, liaising with the CDM/Principal Designer to manage design risks.
• Sustainability: Oversee BREEAM requirements and ensure sustainability information is delivered in line with project targets.
• Stakeholder Management: Lead design team and coordination meetings, drive decision-making and maintain effective relationships with consultants, subcontractors and third-party stakeholders.
• Information Management: Ensure drawings, specifications and technical documentation are properly reviewed, controlled and distributed in accordance with company procedures.
• Programme & Commercial Awareness: Monitor design progress, manage interfaces and assess the impact of design decisions on programme, cost, quality and construction methodology.

About You

You will be an established Design Manager with a strong technical background and experience managing multidisciplinary design teams within the construction industry.

Ideally, you will have:

• Proven experience in design management across commercial, retail or similar construction projects.
• Strong technical knowledge of civils, structural works, building envelope, M&E and fit-out.
• Experience managing consultants, design programmes, technical submissions and construction information.
• A good understanding of buildability, design risk, Building Regulations, planning requirements, CDM and BREEAM.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, commercially aware approach, with the ability to challenge design proposals, resolve technical issues and drive delivery.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated Design Manager to take ownership of design delivery, influence technical decisions and work collaboratively with project teams to deliver coordinated, compliant and buildable construction projects.