Design Manager

Design Manager - Major Data Centre Project

Location: London / South East

Sector: Data Centres

Salary: -80k90k + comprehensive benefits package

We are currently working with a leading UK construction contractor to recruit a Design Manager to join a major data centre project.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Design Manager with a strong background in steelwork and fa-ade coordination to join an established project team and work closely with the Senior Design Manager to deliver a technically complex, high-profile project.

The successful candidate will play a key role in coordinating design information, managing interfaces between consultants and specialist subcontractors, and ensuring design packages are delivered in line with programme, quality and construction requirements.

The Role

Working closely with the Senior Design Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the Senior Design Manager in the overall management and coordination of the design process.
• Coordinating design information across multiple disciplines and ensuring interfaces are effectively managed.
• Taking ownership of steelwork design coordination, ensuring structural steel packages are fully coordinated with architectural, MEP and other specialist systems.
• Managing and coordinating fa-ade packages, working closely with specialist subcontractors, consultants and the wider project team.
• Reviewing technical drawings and design information for completeness, coordination and buildability.
• Managing the flow and timely release of design information to support the construction programme.
• Liaising with consultants, subcontractors and specialist suppliers to resolve technical queries and design coordination issues.
• Attending and contributing to design coordination meetings, workshops and technical reviews.
• Identifying design risks, clashes and potential programme impacts, working proactively with the wider team to develop solutions.
• Supporting the development and management of design programmes and information release schedules.
• Assisting with the management of contractor design portions and specialist subcontractor design packages.
• Ensuring design information meets relevant statutory, regulatory and project requirements.
• Supporting the Senior Design Manager with design reporting, progress updates and stakeholder communication.
• Working collaboratively with the project delivery team to ensure designs are practical, coordinated and deliverable on site.
• Contributing to value engineering and continuous improvement initiatives where appropriate.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven experience working as a Design Manager or Assistant Design Manager within a main contractor environment.
• Experience working on data centres, mission-critical facilities or other complex technically driven projects is highly desirable.
• Strong experience in steelwork coordination and an understanding of structural steel design, interfaces and installation.
• Proven experience coordinating fa-ade systems and packages, ideally involving specialist fa-ade contractors.
• Experience managing the interfaces between structural, architectural, fa-ade and MEP design packages.
• A good understanding of the design and construction process, with a strong focus on buildability and technical coordination.
• Experience working with consultants, specialist subcontractors and design teams.
• The ability to identify and resolve design clashes, technical issues and coordination challenges.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
• The confidence to work independently while supporting and working closely with a Senior Design Manager.
• Experience with BIM and digital design coordination processes.
• A good understanding of design programmes, design responsibility matrices and technical submissions.

Why This Opportunity?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a high-performing project team delivering a major data centre development and to work alongside experienced senior leadership.

The role offers the chance to take ownership of key design packages, particularly steelwork and fa-ade, while gaining further experience on a complex and technically challenging project within the rapidly growing data centre sector.

Interested?

If you are an experienced Design Manager with strong steelwork and fa-ade coordination experience and are looking for your next opportunity within the data centre sector, we would be keen to hear from you.

Apply now or feel free to message me via LinkedIn/Email (url removed) for a confidential chat.