Design Manager

The Vacancy

At Wates Construction, we don’t just build — we design and deliver with purpose. We’re currently looking for a talented Design Manager to join our team and play a key role in some of the most exciting, technically complex projects across multiple sectors.

If you’re passionate about great design, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to challenge convention with bold ideas — this is your opportunity to take the next step in your career and help us shape the skylines and communities of tomorrow.

What you’ll be doing:

As a Design Manager, you’ll lead the design process from pre-construction through delivery, ensuring projects are not just buildable — but built to inspire and thrive.

Your role will include:

• Driving Quality & Innovation
  Develop and manage realistic design and information schedules that align with procurement and construction timelines.

• Championing Continuous Improvement
  Bring fresh ideas, support innovation, and help us raise the bar across every design discipline.

• Mitigating Risk, Maximising Value
  Lead technical reviews to ensure compliance, buildability, and health & safety are embedded from the outset.

• Collaborating for Success
  Work closely with consultants, technical experts, and delivery teams to ensure designs meet the brief — and go beyond expectations.

What we offer:

• 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/

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.

If you would like clarity on any of our vacancies, discuss career opportunities in strict confidence or need anything to make our recruitment process easier, please contact our In-House Recruitment Team directly or via recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of us will get in touch as soon as possible.

As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships.

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.