Design Manager

Harrogate, Yorkshire
Cobalt Recruitment

Design Manager – Building Remediation & Refurbishment

Location: Warrington / Hybrid – with travel to projects across the UK
Salary: Up to £95,000 + Bonus and an excellent benefits package
Employment Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

We are working with a well-established and growing specialist contractor to recruit an experienced Design Manager to join their expanding Building Remediation and Refurbishment division.

Our client delivers complex refurbishment, planned maintenance, building remediation and energy-efficiency projects across the UK, working across both public and private sector environments.

With a strong pipeline of secured and upcoming projects, they are looking for a technically strong Design Manager who can take ownership of the design process and act as the key link between Pre-Construction and Operational delivery teams.

This is a senior and influential role within the business, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to become a key technical figure as the division continues to expand.

The Role

As Design Manager, you will take responsibility for leading and coordinating design across a portfolio of complex remediation and refurbishment projects.

Working from early pre-construction and PCSA stages through to project delivery, you will ensure designs are technically compliant, fully coordinated, buildable and commercially viable.

A significant part of the role will involve managing projects in line with the Building Safety Act and Building Safety Regulator requirements, including leading and supporting projects through the Gateway process.

You will work closely with clients, architects, structural engineers, fire engineers, specialist consultants, commercial teams and operational delivery teams. You will provide technical leadership, identify design risks and ensure practical solutions are developed before projects reach site.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design management process across multiple refurbishment and building remediation projects.
• Act as the technical link between Pre-Construction and Operational delivery teams.
• Coordinate architects, structural engineers, fire engineers and specialist consultants throughout the design lifecycle.
• Manage design development throughout the PCSA stage, ensuring projects are coordinated ahead of construction.
• Ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act and Building Safety Regulator requirements.
• Lead Gateway 2 submissions and support projects through Gateway 3 approval.
• Manage Golden Thread information and ensure accurate technical and project records are maintained.
• Attend client and consultant meetings, providing technical leadership and design updates.
• Review drawings, specifications and design information, identifying technical risks and potential issues.
• Develop practical and buildable solutions to design challenges.
• Provide technical input during tenders, bids and future project opportunities.
• Work closely with Commercial, Operational and Project teams to ensure designs remain compliant, buildable and commercially viable.
• Support buildability reviews and ensure construction considerations are incorporated into the design process.
• Champion best practice across design management and contribute to the continued development of the technical function.

About You

We are looking for an experienced Design Manager with a strong technical background and a proven track record of managing complex construction design.

Experience within building remediation, refurbishment, residential construction, façades or external wall projects would be particularly relevant.

You should ideally have:

• Significant experience working within Design Management or a similar technical construction role.
• Experience delivering refurbishment, building remediation or residential construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of the Building Safety Act and current building safety requirements.
• Experience working with the Building Safety Regulator and an understanding of the Gateway process.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and external consultants.
• Good understanding of structural and fire engineering principles.
• Experience managing and coordinating design throughout the PCSA and pre-construction stages.
• Knowledge of Golden Thread requirements and digital information management.
• Strong technical problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• The confidence to challenge designs and identify technical risks before they become construction issues.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively with clients, consultants, commercial teams and operational delivery teams.
• Good commercial awareness and an understanding of buildability.
• Chartered status through RIBA, CIOB, ICE or another relevant professional organisation would be advantageous but is not essential.

If you feel that this is the role for you, please apply with your latest CV.

Regards