Design Lead

Design Lead - Data Centres

Location: North East England

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Design Lead to join the delivery team on a major data centre construction project in the North East of England. This is a key leadership role, responsible for managing and coordinating the design process across Civil, Structural, Architectural (CSA), and Mechanical, Electrical & Public Health (MEP) disciplines, ensuring designs are fully coordinated, compliant, and delivered in line with programme requirements.

Working closely with project teams, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders, you will play a critical role in driving design excellence and supporting the successful delivery of a large-scale, mission-critical data centre project.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the multidisciplinary design process throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate design activities across CSA and MEP disciplines to ensure effective integration.
• Develop, manage, and monitor the design programme in line with the overall project schedule.
• Liaise with consultants, subcontractors, clients, and internal project teams to ensure the timely delivery of design information.
• Chair and attend design coordination meetings, technical reviews, and project workshops.
• Review and manage the approval of drawings, specifications, technical submissions, and design documentation.
• Work closely with construction teams to ensure design intent is maintained while promoting buildability and efficient project delivery.
• Manage design changes, Requests for Information (RFIs), and technical queries, ensuring timely resolution.
• Identify technical risks and opportunities while supporting commercial teams with design-related matters where required.
• Monitor design progress and provide regular updates to senior project stakeholders.
• Proactively resolve design, coordination, and constructability issues.
• Ensure all design documentation is maintained and kept up to date throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure all design deliverables comply with project specifications, statutory requirements, and industry standards.

Skills & Experience

• Bachelor''s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of seven years'' experience in Design Management or Project Management within the construction industry.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design teams on large-scale construction projects.
• Strong understanding of Civil, Structural, Architectural (CSA) and MEP design coordination.
• Excellent communication, leadership, programme management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong technical knowledge of relevant construction standards, regulations, and design best practices.
• Experience delivering data centre, mission-critical, industrial, or other complex construction projects is highly desirable.

What''s on Offer

• Opportunity to work on a flagship, large-scale data centre project.
• Excellent career development opportunities within a growing organisation.
• Collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Long-term project pipeline and opportunities for career progression.