Design Manager

If you have spent your career in architecture or architectural technology and you are ready to step into a role where your technical knowledge genuinely shapes how buildings are made safer, this is worth your attention.

Our client is one of the UK''s most progressive principal contractors in the facade remediation sector. Backed by a listed parent group with a turnover exceeding -600 million, this is a business with the financial strength of a major contractor and the pace and culture of a modern, forward-thinking team. Work is secured through to 2028, with project values up to -22 million across residential towers, stadiums, commercial schemes and public sector developments.

As Design Manager, you will be the bridge between design intent and safe, compliant, buildable delivery. Your fluency in technical drawings, design coordination and stakeholder management will be central to how these projects succeed, while your understanding of facade systems and building regulations puts you ahead of the curve from day one.

Why Make the Move from Architecture?

Many talented architects and architectural technologists reach a point where ambition outgrows what a traditional practice can offer. If that resonates, here is what a move into contracting can give you:

• Significantly stronger earning potential. Salaries in contractor-side design management consistently outpace those in private practice, with clear routes to progress further.
• Real project ownership. You are not producing drawings for someone else to deliver. You are at the centre of delivery, with direct influence over outcomes.
• Broader exposure. Working across multiple live projects simultaneously builds commercial awareness, programme management skills and stakeholder experience that practice rarely offers at the same pace.
• Tangible impact. Facade remediation is one of the most meaningful areas of construction right now. The work you do directly contributes to making people''s homes and buildings safer.
• Long-term career development. This employer invests heavily in training, mentoring and progression, with a genuine people-first culture to back it up.

What makes this employer stand out is its people-first culture. Weekly cultural feedback shapes decisions at senior leadership level, and the business has genuine ambitions to be recognised as one of the Times Top 100 Places to Work. Development, mentoring and long-term careers are taken seriously here.

Design Manager Salary & Benefits

• Salary: -65,000 to -85,000 per annum (DOE, with higher considered for strong fire remediation experience)
• Location: Regular presence in Portsmouth office with hybrid working and UK wide travel
• 25 to 30 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Pension scheme
• Project bonus scheme
• Company bonus scheme
• 4 years death in service cover
• Critical illness cover
• Regular team and company wide social events
• Comprehensive in house and external training and development
• Access to Udemy and other training platforms
• Office facilities including stocked kitchen and shower
• Charity fundraising days
• Supportive, collaborative culture with clear progression pathways

Design Manager Job Overview

• Lead the full design process for facade and fire remediation projects from pre construction through delivery
• Coordinate and integrate design information from architects, structural engineers, fire engineers, manufacturers and specialist subcontractors

Ensure all designs are fully compliant with current building regulations, fire safety legislation and cladding specific standard

Bennett and Game Recruitment are a multi-disciplined technical recruitment agency based in Chichester, West Sussex operating across the UK with specialist teams covering a range of industries.

We are acting as a Recruitment Agency in relation to this vacancy, and in accordance with GDPR by applying you are granting us consent to process your data, contact you about the services we offer, and submit your CV for the role you have applied for.

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