Design Manager

Design Manager

Location: Tonbridge (Projects across London, Surrey & Kent)
Sectors: Education, Local Authority, Police / Blue light, Commercial & Light Industrial
Contract Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

We are working with a well-established main contractor delivering a diverse portfolio of projects across education, local authority, blue light, commercial, and light industrial sectors, up to £25M. With a strong pipeline of work in London, Surrey, and Kent, they are seeking an experienced Design Manager to take ownership of design delivery across multiple frameworks and project types, from new-build to refurbishment schemes.

This role is ideally suited to a Design Manager with a main contractor background and proven experience coordinating complex projects across multiple sectors through the full design and construction lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

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Lead and manage the design process from pre-construction through to project completion

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Coordinate external consultants, subcontract designers, and internal project teams

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Manage design risk, programme alignment, and change control processes

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Chair and actively contribute to design team and coordination meetings

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Ensure design information is issued accurately and in line with construction requirements

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Support tender and pre-construction activities across multiple frameworks

Ideal Candidate Profile

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Proven experience as a Design Manager working for a main contractor

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Experience delivering projects across education, local authority, blue light, commercial, or light industrial sectors

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Solid understanding of Design & Build and framework procurement routes

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Strong coordination, communication, and stakeholder management skills

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Comfortable working on live construction projects across multiple sites

What’s on Offer

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Competitive salary

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Long-term, varied pipeline of projects across multiple sectors

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Opportunity to work with an established contractor on repeat frameworks

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Supportive, well-structured design and delivery teams

Interested?

If you are a Design Manager with multi-sector experience and a main contractor background — or know someone suitable — please get in touch for a confidential discussion