Design Manager

Design Manager – Welwyn Garden City
£68,000–£78,000 + Car Allowance + 25 Days Holiday
Project Based / Office Based, with flexibility for occasional remote working
Healthcare, MOJ, or Education experience required.
We are looking for an experienced and talented Design Manager to manage the design aspects of tenders and live projects within the Welwyn Garden City business. This role is project‑based and office‑based with flexibility for occasional remote working, offering the chance to work on high‑profile public sector and community‑focused schemes.
About the Role
You will lead and coordinate the design process across both bid and delivery stages, ensuring compliant, coordinated and innovative design solutions. This includes developing design strategies, managing design resources, overseeing the RIBA stages, challenging briefs to add value and ensuring designs align with cost plans, programme and client requirements.
You will work closely with internal delivery teams, external design consultants, subcontractors and statutory authorities to deliver high‑quality, fully coordinated design information.
Key Responsibilities
* Establish, maintain and manage project design resources at bid and delivery stages
* Provide a comprehensive, professional and sustainable design service to clients and partners
* Lead and coordinate the overall design process through all RIBA stages
* Challenge design briefs, drive innovation and implement continuous improvement
* Ensure full compliance with internal design management procedures
* Develop and support design strategies for new projects
* Ensure adherence to design briefs and develop clear scopes of service
* Programme and manage all design reviews and coordination meetings
* Work closely with discipline designers to deliver coordinated design solutions
* Identify requirements for design reviews and ensure key actions are captured
* Ensure design solutions align with construction requirements, commercial targets and cost plans
What We’re Looking For
An experienced Design Manager with proven experience delivering Healthcare or MOJ or Education schemes for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Contractor.
Additionally, you will have:
* Solid experience within the main contracting environment
* Experience delivering Healthcare and Education projects
* Strong understanding of construction design and design management principles
* Experience with both single‑stage and two‑stage tenders
* HNC / HND (or equivalent) in Design Management or a related field
* CIOB membership or working towards (beneficial but not essential)
* Experience working with internal teams, consultants, clients and statutory authorities
* A collaborative, proactive approach, thriving within inclusive team environments
What You Can Expect
* £68,000–£78,000 salary
* Car allowance
* 25 days holiday
* Supportive, collaborative and people‑focused team culture
* Genuine investment in development and long‑term career progression
* Exposure to a strong pipeline of Healthcare, Education and public sector schemes
* Opportunities to contribute to high‑value, meaningful projects
Keywords
Design Manager, Construction Design Manager, Healthcare Design Manager, Education Projects, Tier 1 Contractor, Tier 2 Contractor, RIBA Stages, Design Coordination, BIM, Digital Construction, Pre‑Construction, Tender Design Manager, Main Contractor Design, Design Strategy, Coordinated Design, Public Sector Construction, Hertfordshire Construction Jobs, Welwyn Garden City Jobs