Senior Design Manager

The role:

Wates are looking for a Senior Design Manager to join our Construction Team in LONDON, focusing on high‑profile, technically complex projects across multiple sectors. Given our growing portfolio of conservation and refurbishment work, experience in delivering heritage projects, across listed buildings, historically sensitive sites or conservation‑led schemes is highly desirable and will enable you to make an immediate impact.

If you are passionate about design, enjoy working within a collaborative team environment and have proven technical skills—paired with a desire to challenge the norm, bring fresh ideas and elevate yourself within the industry—then join us and help to create tomorrow together.

This is a great opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse and supportive team.

What you'll be doing:

Our Senior Design Managers are a valuable part of our business—driving quality outcomes, enhancing buildability and fostering innovation. You will work collaboratively with customers and industry specialists to ensure the design develops in line with the brief, with a firm focus on added value, compliance, commercial viability and best practice.

Prior experience of works on Listed Buildings and demonstrable knowledge of works with heritage trades and in restoration and refurbishment works is essential to the role. Experience of working for largescale public sector clients with complex stakeholder management needs is advantageous.

For heritage‑led schemes, your expertise will be key in navigating conservation requirements, coordinating with specialist consultants and ensuring sensitive yet innovative design solutions.

• Review the current design of all projects and undertake detailed risk and opportunity appraisals to mitigate risk, enhance buildability and add value prior to the construction phase.
• In collaboration with the project team, Lead Designer and Consultant Team, produce and manage a realistic design programme and information‑required schedule to satisfy design, procurement and construction requirements.
• Work closely with the Commercial and Operations Teams to ensure all design deliverables are fully coordinated, buildable and within budget. Contribute to technical workshops and value‑management exercises as required to align expectations.

What we will offer you:

• Competitive salary & profit share scheme 

• Flexible working 

• Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role/Grade) 

• Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) 

• Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers' contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… 

• Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. 

• Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity. 

To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/ 

Wates is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. 

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement, as we value transferable skills and assess all applications fairly.

We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work.  As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme.  Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at recruitment@wates.co.uk / WPSrecruitment@wates.co.uk