Design Manager (RIBA/ARB Architect) - Early-Career Route into Design Management

Overview

Design Manager (RIBA/ARB Architect) - Early-Career Route into Design Management. This range is provided by Grõ Careers. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.The OpportunityJoin a specialist team inside one of London’s most forward-thinking studios. You’ll plan, coordinate, and steer delivery across landmark projects - keeping programmes, people, and processes aligned to the design vision. This is a pivotal early-career move where strategy, problem-solving, and communication take centre stage - without leaving the industry you trained for.What You’ll DoBuild and maintain design programmes, milestones, and deliverable maps.Set up workflows, information exchange, and coordination protocols.Chair/co-chair meetings, capture decisions, manage action trackers and status updates.Produce client-facing documentation (agendas, trackers, reports, risk and change logs).Keep delivery aligned to design intent - flag risks early, unlock issues, drive clarity.Report progress to leadership and present confidently to clients and stakeholders.Why This Is DifferentEarly access to flagship projects; cultural, aviation, hospitality, masterplanning, and much more.A shift away from pure production toward coordination and team delivery.Daily interaction with industry-leading designers, clients, and consultants - a real seat at the table.A fast-tracked, future-proof pathway into leadership, client-side roles, or international moves.One of the most respected names on your CV, a balanced workload (evenings/weekends respected), and pay that reflects contribution, not just output.You’ll Thrive Here If You Have1-6 years post-Part III in a UK design-led practice.Exposure to large/complex, multi-stakeholder projects (UK or international).A strong grasp of RIBA stages, gateways, and deliverables.Evidence of owning or contributing to schedules, programmes, or coordination processes.Clear, concise communication - calm under pressure, great with clients.A natural organiser who spots risks early and brings structure to ambiguity.Nice to have: familiarity with tools like MS Project/Excel/Smartsheet/Aconex/Asite/Newforma.Ready to shape how great design gets delivered?Send your CV to

Reece at Grõ Careers .If you’re asking better questions about your career - and want more than the traditional path offers - this is your route to stay in the industry and step into its future.About Grõ Careers -

Selective, one-to-one support for architects moving beyond the traditional pathWe specialise in helping architects transition into alternative pathways - design management, project management, client-side and consultancy. We partner selectively with values-aligned people and employers; much of our work is by recommendation. That focus lets us deliver tailored advice you won’t find elsewhere.Both founders, Carl + Reece, work directly on every engagement, bringing 20+ years’ combined experience at the intersection of architecture and recruitment. Our approach is hands-on, detail-driven and ethics-first - fewer projects, deeper relationships, stronger results.What you can expectRole-mapping and route design aligned to your strengthsNarrative coaching for CV/portfolio and tailored interview prepInsight-led market guidance on timing, salary and positioningDiscreet introductions, often to opportunities not widely advertisedIf you’re a values-aligned architect ready for a strategic move, we’d love to ..... full job details .....