Senior Design Manager

The Vacancy

Are you ready to lead from the front in delivering innovative, high-impact fit-out and refurbishment projects? Wates Smartspace is looking for an exceptional Senior Design Manager to join our established team and take the reins in ensuring the smooth, safe, and successful delivery of a wide range of projects. If you have a passion for design, a keen eye for detail, and the drive to inspire teams, this is the opportunity for you.

What You’ll Do:

As Senior Design Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind the design process, offering visible leadership and providing direction across multiple projects. You’ll collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure all proposals are thorough and aligned with business goals, leading the creation of project-specific agreements and plans. With your expertise, you’ll review and manage design progress, ensuring that all health and safety measures are adhered to from day one and that designs are practical, buildable, and aligned with customer expectations.

Managing the design team on-site, you’ll ensure that the design is executed smoothly, efficiently, and on schedule—coordinating with subcontractors, suppliers, and project teams to meet both project and business objectives. Your leadership will not only ensure that deadlines are met but will also contribute to the continuous improvement of the team and the projects we deliver.

What We’re Looking For:

We want a Senior Design Manager who’s got the vision, experience, and energy to transform ideas into reality. You’ll have a proven track record in managing design delivery within the Interiors Cat A and Cat B fit-out and refurbishment sector, with extensive knowledge of construction materials, methods, and the latest technology. Whether you’re a Chartered Architect, Engineer, or MCIOB, we’re looking for someone who can manage complex design projects, navigate contract and procurement processes, and inspire a team to achieve excellence.

You’ll have experience leading a team across diverse sectors and be driven by a passion for HSE compliance, risk management, and value creation. Your communication skills will be top-notch, with a positive, engaging, and supportive approach that motivates and educates the team and the wider business.

Why Join Us?

At Wates Smartspace, you’re not just another employee—you’re part of a forward-thinking team that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and delivering quality. We give you the tools, support, and autonomy you need to make a real impact. If you’re ready to step up, share your expertise, and shape the future of design delivery, apply now and take your career to the next level with Wates Smartspace.

Other benefits include:

• Competitive salary & profit share scheme
• Flexible working
• Car Allowance / Company Car *
• Travel covered to any of our sites*
• Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more…
• One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group)
• Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.

(*Subject to role…….)

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

We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all of the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group.

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant’s criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks.

To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies.  Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer.  We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.