Design Manager

Wates Construction is seeking a Design Manager to join our team on forthcoming high‑profile, technically complex projects across the Midlands and South Yorkshire.

This opportunity is well suited to an experienced Design Manager from a large construction contractor, or to an engineer with experience in a design consultancy who is looking to progress their career as part of a talented, diverse and supportive team.

The role

Design Managers play a key role in our business, supporting quality outcomes, improving buildability and encouraging innovation. Working collaboratively with industry specialists and in‑house technical experts, you will help ensure that designs develop in line with the brief, with a strong focus on added value, compliance, commercial viability and best practice.

What you'll be doing

• Collaborating with all relevant parties to produce and manage a realistic design programme and information required schedule to support design, procurement and construction activities
• Supporting the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives and innovation
• Ensuring designs are reviewed and verified to achieve compliance, and to identify and mitigate health and safety, design and buildability risks prior to construction
• Identifying key risks and opportunities at each stage of the design and delivery process

Due to the nature of this role, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required at the offer stage.

What you'll bring

• A degree or equivalent experience in a relevant construction discipline
• Experience delivering and/or managing construction design on large projects within a regulated industry (for example MoJ, MoD, Power Generation, or similar sectors)

What we offer

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Car allowance or company car (subject to role/grade)
• Travel expenses covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates)
• A comprehensive benefits package including private medical cover, pension with 8% employer contribution, health and wellbeing programme, and 26 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• A wide range of learning and development opportunities to support career progression
• Industry‑leading family leave benefits, including 26 weeks' fully paid maternity leave and 12 weeks' fully paid paternity leave