Job Description:

Role: Senior Design Manager – Main Contractor

Location: Hertfordshire

Sector Focus: Defence, Life Sciences, Industrial

Type: Full-Time / Permanent

The Company

A leading main contractor delivering complex, high-value projects across the UK is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to join its Hertfordshire team. The business has a strong pipeline of technically challenging schemes within the defence, life sciences and industrial sectors, working with both public and private sector clients in highly regulated environments.

The Role

The Senior Design Manager will lead and coordinate the design process from pre-construction through to project completion, ensuring technical excellence, programme certainty and compliance across multiple projects. You will work closely with clients, consultants, subcontractors and operational teams to drive successful project outcomes while managing risk, quality and buildability.

This is a key leadership position within the business, suited to someone with strong main contracting experience and a proven ability to manage multidisciplinary design teams on complex construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design management function on major projects from tender through delivery.
• Manage and coordinate external consultants, architects and specialist subcontractor design teams.
• Ensure design programmes align with procurement and construction activities.
• Review and manage design deliverables to ensure compliance with client requirements, statutory regulations and technical standards.
• Identify and mitigate design-related risks and drive value engineering opportunities.
• Chair design team meetings and maintain clear communication with all stakeholders.
• Support bid and pre-construction teams with technical input and design strategy.
• Work collaboratively with project delivery teams to ensure buildability and efficient project execution.
• Ensure projects meet sector-specific requirements, particularly within regulated environments such as defence and life sciences.
• Mentor and support junior design management staff where required.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Senior Design Manager or Design Manager within a UK main contractor environment.
• Strong background delivering complex construction projects within defence, life sciences, industrial, pharmaceutical, manufacturing or similarly regulated sectors.
• Excellent understanding of construction methodologies, design coordination and technical compliance.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary consultant teams and subcontractor design packages.
• Strong knowledge of UK building regulations, planning processes and construction standards.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and drive programme performance.
• Excellent communication, leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Relevant construction qualification in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline.
• Security clearance eligibility may be required for defence-related projects.

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunity to work on landmark, technically complex projects.
• Long-term career progression within a growing business.
• Collaborative and forward-thinking working environment.
• Exposure to high-profile clients and innovative construction solutions.