Senior Design Manager
Senior Design Manager – Tier 1 Main Contractor
London & South East | Healthcare Schemes | Major Projects
An outstanding opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Design Manager to join a leading Tier 1 main contractor delivering a portfolio of high-value healthcare projects across London and the South East.
With a strong pipeline of complex hospital schemes, this role offers the chance to play a key leadership position across multiple projects, contributing to the successful delivery of technically challenging and high-profile developments.
The Role
As Senior Design Manager, you will take ownership of the design management function across several healthcare schemes, ensuring design excellence from pre-construction through to project completion.
This is a dynamic, multi-site role requiring travel between projects, working closely with internal teams, consultants, and stakeholders to drive coordination, quality, and programme certainty.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage the design process from pre-construction through delivery
Coordinate and oversee consultant and subcontractor design outputs
Ensure design compliance with statutory, regulatory, and employer's requirements
Carry out design assurance, technical reviews, and buildability assessments
Identify and manage design risks, driving value engineering opportunities
Lead design change control, assessing programme and cost implications
Maintain accurate records of design submissions, approvals, and revisions
Collaborate closely with construction, commercial, and procurement teams
Provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to Design Managers within the team
Skills & Experience
Proven track record in a Senior Design Manager or Design Manager role on major projects
Experience working for a Tier 1 or large main contractor
Strong understanding of RIBA Stages 3-6
Background in delivering complex, site-based projects (healthcare experience advantageous)
Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex design interfaces
Excellent communication, coordination, and leadership skills
Relevant professional qualification (desirable but not essential)Why Apply?
Opportunity to work on high-profile, technically complex healthcare schemes
Involvement across multiple major projects rather than a single site
Long-term pipeline offering stability and career progression
Key leadership role within a highly respected Tier 1 contractorApply
If you are seeking a senior design leadership position within a forward-thinking Tier 1 contractor, we would be keen to hear from you. Please submit your CV or contact Francesca Cainelli on (phone number removed) for a confidential discussion