Head of Design
Head of Design
Location: Farringdon
Level: Senior Leadership / Head of Function
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Head of Design to provide strategic leadership across the full lifecycle of complex healthcare construction projects — from bid stage and work-winning through to technical delivery and handover.
This is a pivotal senior leadership role, combining technical authority, design governance, and commercial insight. You will lead the design function across a portfolio of healthcare projects, setting strategy, managing risk, and ensuring design excellence, compliance, and buildability throughout.
Design Leads on individual projects will report directly into this role, giving you full oversight of design performance, coordination, and delivery across the healthcare portfolio.
Working closely with the Operations Director and senior project stakeholders, you will monitor design progress, manage technical and regulatory risk, and proactively address any matters that may impact programme, cost, quality, or clinical functionality.
Key Responsibilities
Bidding & Work Winning
Lead the design and technical strategy for healthcare bids, ensuring compliance with HTM/HBN standards and client requirements
Prepare and oversee design management plans, technical narratives, and interface strategies
Work closely with commercial, planning, and operational teams to align design assumptions with cost and programme
Represent the business in client interviews, bid presentations, and technical discussions
Build strong relationships with consultants and supply chain partners to enhance technical capability
Design Leadership & Portfolio Oversight
Provide strategic oversight of design delivery across multiple healthcare projects
Line-manage Design Leads, maintaining visibility of progress, risks, and deliverables
Act as the senior technical authority across the healthcare portfolio
Report on design performance, risk, and compliance to senior operational leadership
Drive consistent design management processes, governance, and approval gateways
Pre-Construction & Design Development
Lead reviews of concept, scheme, and detailed design stages
Ensure compliance with NHS standards, Building Regulations, fire strategy, and statutory requirements
Oversee design risk management, value engineering, and buildability reviews
Support contractor proposals, planning submissions, and technical approvals
Construction & Delivery Support
Maintain technical oversight during construction to ensure ongoing compliance and coordination
Support resolution of complex design and interface issues across architectural, MEP, and structural disciplines
Oversee design change control and variation assessment
Ensure timely completion of design deliverables to support commissioning and handover
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
Engage with NHS Trusts, user groups, clinical stakeholders, and technical advisors
Facilitate workshops, design reviews, and mock-ups to ensure operationally effective outcomes
Maintain relationships with statutory authorities and NHS technical bodies
About You
Extensive experience leading design on healthcare construction projects
In-depth knowledge of HTM and HBN standards, infection prevention principles, and clinical adjacencies
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary design teams across multiple projects
Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how design impacts cost, programme, and risk
Confident communicator, able to translate complex technical issues into clear direction
Calm, analytical, and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving
What’s on Offer
Senior leadership role with genuine influence over design strategy
Opportunity to shape and lead the healthcare design function
Work on complex, high-profile healthcare schemes
Competitive salary and benefits package
Interested
Apply with your CV or contact us for a confidential discussion