DESIGN MANAGER – ESSEX

We are seeking an experiencedDesign Manager to lead and coordinate design development for commercial construction projects based inEssex . You will be responsible for managing design deliverables, ensuring compliance with client requirements and contractual obligations, and driving alignment between design teams, internal departments, and the supply chain. This role is central to achieving buildability, programme certainty, and high-quality outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Own design management from pre-construction through to technical close-out (as required by project stage).
• Coordinate and manage design information flow, ensuring the right information is produced, at the right time, to the right standard.
• Manage design programme(s): RIBA/stage outputs, review cycles, approval milestones, and design deadlines.
• Lead/coordinate design reviews to ensure compliance with:
• contract requirements and specifications
• statutory/regulatory requirements and relevant standards
• planning constraints (where applicable)

Ensure buildability input is integrated early with the construction team (method statements, temporary works considerations, logistics, access, sequencing).

Manage consultants and stakeholder engagement, driving clarity of roles, responsibilities, and design deliverables.

Support procurement and subcontract strategy by coordinating technical packages and ensuring design information is sufficient for estimating and tender returns.

Oversee drawing/specification issue management and maintain accurate document control throughout the project lifecycle.

Identify design risks and propose mitigation strategies (e.g., scope ambiguity, long-lead items, coordination issues).

Chair or contribute to key design coordination meetings and maintain action logs.

Liaise with the client, architect/engineer, and internal teams to resolve design queries and reduce design-related programme impact.

Support final handover by ensuring as-built information, O&M manuals, and technical documentation are complete.

Skills & experience required

• Proven experience as aDesign Manager (or Assistant Design Manager / Design Coordinator) within commercial construction.
• Strong understanding of design processes and development across project stages.
• Sound knowledge of design coordination, technical review, and document control.
• Demonstrable ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and consultants.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how design decisions impact cost and programme.
• Competence with design management tools/systems (e.g., Asta PowerProject/other planning tools are a plus; document control systems are essential).
• Ideally experienced delivering projects such as: offices, retail, hotels, industrial/commercial units, education/commercial hybrid, and/or fit-out works.

Qualifications (preferred)

• Relevant professional qualification in construction/design management (or equivalent industry experience).
• Membership of a professional body (e.g., CIOB/CIBSE/ICE as applicable) is an advantage.

Location / travel

• Based inEssex , with travel to project sites as required across the region.

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