Design Manager

Design Manager – Pre-Construction

Location: Uxbridge / London & Home Counties
Salary: £60,000 – £70,000 per annum
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Design Manager – Pre-Construction | Main Contractor

We are working with an established and growing main contractor who is looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager with a strong pre-construction focus to join their team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially aware Design Manager to play a key role in the early stages of construction projects, taking ownership of design development, technical coordination and buildability from tender through to project handover to the delivery team.

Working closely with the pre-construction, commercial and operational teams, you will help develop coordinated, cost-effective design solutions that meet client requirements, support successful tender submissions and provide a clear route into construction.

The business delivers a varied portfolio of projects across residential, education, commercial, leisure and refurbishment sectors, offering the opportunity to work on diverse schemes within a collaborative main contractor environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate design activities throughout the pre-construction and tender stages.
• Manage the design process from initial concept and tender information through to detailed design development.
• Work closely with the pre-construction and estimating teams to ensure design solutions align with tender budgets, programme requirements and client expectations.
• Review architectural, structural and building services information to identify design gaps, coordination issues and potential risks.
• Assess buildability and identify opportunities for value engineering, cost optimisation and improved construction methodology.
• Coordinate external consultants, architects, engineers and specialist subcontractors to ensure design information is developed in line with tender and project deadlines.
• Review employer''s requirements, specifications, drawings and other tender documentation.
• Identify design risks, technical constraints and procurement considerations at an early stage.
• Support the preparation of tender submissions, design programmes, technical proposals and design risk registers.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Building Regulations, statutory requirements and project-specific standards.
• Facilitate design reviews and technical meetings, ensuring actions are recorded and progressed.
• Manage the transition from pre-construction into the construction phase, ensuring the delivery team receives coordinated design information and a clear understanding of outstanding issues.

About You

We are looking for a proactive and technically strong Design Manager who understands the demands of a main contractor environment and is comfortable managing design through the tender and pre-construction stages.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience in a Design Manager or similar design coordination role within a main contractor or Design & Build environment.
• Strong experience managing design during pre-construction, tendering and early project development.
• A good understanding of architectural, structural and building services design coordination.
• Experience reviewing tender documentation, identifying design risks and assessing buildability.
• The ability to work closely with estimating and commercial teams to develop cost-effective design solutions.
• Experience coordinating external consultants and specialist subcontractors.
• A sound understanding of construction methods, procurement processes and project programmes.
• Knowledge of Building Regulations, statutory approvals and relevant compliance requirements.
• Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• A relevant degree or qualification in Architecture, Construction, Engineering or a related discipline.

Experience across new-build residential, education, commercial or refurbishment projects would be advantageous.

What''s on Offer?

• Salary of £60,000 – £70,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• The opportunity to take a lead role in pre-construction design management.
• Exposure to a varied portfolio of construction and refurbishment projects.
• Close collaboration with pre-construction, estimating, commercial and operational teams.
• The opportunity to influence design quality, buildability and commercial outcomes from the earliest project stages.
• Long-term career development within an established and growing construction business.

Apply Now

If you are an experienced Design Manager with a strong pre-construction background and are looking for a role where you can influence projects from tender stage through to delivery, we would like to hear from you.

Apply today with your CV to find out more about this opportunity.

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