Assistant Design Manager

Assistant Design Manager – HMP Manchester

Location: Manchester
Business: Wates Construction
Project: HMP Manchester

The Opportunity

Wates Construction is looking for an Assistant Design Manager to join our team delivering works at HMP Manchester, supporting the management and coordination of design across a complex live custodial environment.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to develop their career within Design Management while gaining experience on a technically challenging project involving refurbishment, security upgrades and works to existing buildings.

Working alongside the wider Design, Project, Commercial and Supply Chain teams, you'll help ensure that design information is coordinated, compliant, buildable and delivered in line with the programme.

The project requires careful coordination around prison operations, restricted access, security requirements and phased delivery, making strong communication and attention to detail particularly important. 

What you'll be doing

As our Assistant Design Manager, you will support the Design Management team with:

• Coordinating design information between consultants, subcontractors, the supply chain and the site delivery team.
• Supporting the development and coordination of RIBA Stage 3 and Stage 4 design information.
• Reviewing drawings, specifications and technical submissions for coordination, buildability and compliance.
• Supporting design meetings, workshops and design reviews, ensuring actions are captured and progressed.
• Helping to identify and manage design risks, particularly those relating to security, buildability, compliance and the constraints of working within an operational prison.
• Working closely with Commercial and Supply Chain colleagues to ensure design development remains commercially informed and aligned with project requirements. 
• Monitoring design deliverables against programme milestones and helping resolve design queries to avoid delays on site.
• Supporting the management of design changes and ensuring information is accurately controlled and communicated.
• Helping coordinate statutory, client and stakeholder approvals as the design progresses.
• Supporting quality assurance so that construction reflects the approved design intent.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who is passionate about developing a career in Design Management and enjoys working collaboratively within a project team.

You could already be working as an Assistant Design Manager, Design Coordinator, Architectural Technologist or in a similar construction design role, and looking for the opportunity to take the next step within a Tier 1 contractor.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Some experience of design coordination within construction.
• An understanding of the construction design process and RIBA stages.
• The ability to read and understand drawings and technical information.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confidence communicating with consultants, subcontractors and operational teams.
• An understanding of design risk, buildability and health and safety considerations.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to learn from experienced Design and Project Management colleagues.

Experience within refurbishment, secure environments, public sector projects or complex live operational buildings would be advantageous, but does not need to be essential for the right candidate.

Working at HMP Manchester

This role will be supporting a project within a live operational custodial environment. The HMP Manchester design strategy specifically requires solutions to consider restricted access, phased works, prison operations and security protocols

As a result, the successful candidate will need to undertake and successfully complete the relevant security and vetting checks required for the project before gaining the necessary access.

You'll be joining an experienced project team with strong custodial and Ministry of Justice experience, giving you the opportunity to learn about specialist design coordination within one of the most interesting and challenging areas of construction. 

Why Wates?

At Wates, we're committed to providing people with opportunities to develop, progress and build long-term careers.

For someone building their career in Design Management, this role offers the chance to work alongside experienced construction professionals while gaining exposure to the coordination of consultants, specialist subcontractors, commercial teams and site delivery within a complex project environment.

If you're looking for your next step in Design Management and want to be part of a collaborative team delivering a challenging project in Manchester, we'd love to hear from you.