Senior Design Manager

The role:

Wates are looking for a Senior Design Manager to join our Construction division, working in partnership with one of our longstanding clients, the Department for Education (DfE).

This role is ideal for someone with strong experience overseeing the design principles of new-build, refurbishment and complex construction projects. Based out of our Central London office, you'll support a pipeline of impactful education schemes that directly shape the environments where future generations learn and thrive.

What you'll be doing:

Our Senior Design Managers play a critical role within Wates Construction, driving quality outcomes, enhancing buildability and fostering innovation.

You will work closely with our clients, project teams and industry specialists to ensure designs evolve in line with the brief, focusing on added value, compliance, commercial viability and best practice.

As our Senior Design Manager, you will:

• Undertake detailed risk and opportunity appraisals to mitigate risk, enhance buildability and add value before entering the construction phase.
• Manage internal and external designers to ensure accuracy, completeness and alignment with client and project requirements.
• Develop and manage a realistic design programme and information requirement schedules in collaboration with Project Teams, Lead Designers and the wider Consultant Team.
• Support commercial teams, helping manage design-related financial risks, assisting with procurement of specialist materials and ensuring designs remain commercially viable.
• Work closely with Operations and Commercial colleagues to produce coordinated, buildable and budget-conscious design solutions. Participate in technical workshops and value management sessions.
• Liaise with site teams, resolving design queries promptly, conducting site visits and ensuring construction aligns with design intent at every stage.
• Mentor and guide junior design managers, fostering a collaborative and consistent approach across design outputs.

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