Senior Design Manager

The Vacancy

Wates are looking for a Senior Design Manager to join our Smartspace division to work in partnership with a longstanding client, The Department for Education (DFE). This role is suitable for somebody with experience in overseeing design principles of new build fit out and refurbishment projects. This role will be based out of our London office.

If you are passionate about design, working within a team environment and with proven technical skills looking for an opportunity to challenge the norm, bring fresh new ideas and elevate yourself within the industry then we want to hear from you! This is a great opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse, and supportive team.

ABOUT THE ROLE

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

As our Senior Design Manager, you will:

• Review the current design of all projects and undertake detailed risk and opportunities appraisal to mitigating risk, enhance buildability and add value prior to construction phase
• Oversee the entire design lifecycle, managing internal and external designers to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to client requirements.
• Work 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 with commercial teams to manage design-related financial risks, assisting in procuring specialized materials, and ensuring designs are cost-effective.
• Work closely with the Commercial and Operations Teams to ensure all design deliverables are fully coordinated, buildable and within budget. Contribute to technical workshops, value management exercises as required to align expectations in this respect
• Liaise with site teams to resolve design queries, conducting site visits to ensure construction aligns with design intent, and addressing issues in real-time.
• Guide junior design managers and fostering a collaborative environment, ensuring consistency in design output.

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.