Design Manager - Main Contractor

Serving projects in London and the Home Counties.

Walter Lilly is a premier provider of construction and maintenance services for luxurious residential homes, iconic landmarks and heritage buildings, and state-of-the-art science and higher education facilities across London and the Home Counties. Boasting an impressive track record of unique projects developed over the last century, we work with industry-leading architects, engineers, interior designers, and highly skilled tradespeople on a portfolio ranging from the UK’s most recognisable listed attractions to cutting-edge contemporary structures.

We now seek a Design Manager to join us on a permanent, full-time basis.

The Culture

At Walter Lilly, we work with each other and our clients in the spirit of collaboration. We recognise the expertise of those who have been with us for many years whilst investing in the next generation of rising industry stars, combining invaluable experience with fresh, innovative thinking. We are an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to reach their full potential. We strive to create a culture where employees can bring themselves to work in line with our core values of integrity, honesty, and fairness.

The Role

As a Design Manager, you will manage the design process to deliver technically compliant, cost-efficient, and coordinated design packages during both the pre-construction and project delivery stages. You will bring together specialist subcontractors, design team members, and consultants, creating a collaborative environment to deliver design information that meets our customers’ requirements and conforms to building regulations. Managing your time on-site across your projects, you will have several key responsibilities:

• Preparing and managing on-time design information release.
• Overseeing the timely production and approval of technical drawings.
• Chairing design workshops.
• Co-ordinating complex design packages.
• Validating and interrogating design details, adding value to the construction process.
• Providing expert guidance and technical support, working closely with project stakeholders to identify and mitigate risks, as well as ensuring compliance with all statutory, legal, and planning requirements.
• Preparing, implementing, and updating trackers to monitor the quality, compliance, timely production, and progress of consultants’ and subcontractors’ design at all project stages.
• Following best practice principles through all project stages.
• Undertaking design assurance and buildability reviews, ensuring that design deliverables are met and that alignment with commercial strategy is always maintained.
• Monitoring risk, converting opportunities, and recording and assessing the impact of change on the project.
• Reviewing the selection and scope of suitable subcontractors for specialist design packages.
• Ensuring accurate and comprehensive records are maintained.
• Managing the production of handover manuals.
• Working with our document controllers in the set-up and management of the project’s common data environment.
• Overseeing sample, mock-up, and control sample production and approval, including occasional supplier visits and material selection trips.

About You

To be considered as a Design Manager, you will need to demonstrate:

• Proven background of experience in managing the design process on complex projects. Heritage experience would be advantageous.
• Experience with managing Design and Build or Contractor Design Portions.
• Able to attend projects in Central London with occasional travel outside.
• An appetite for CPD.
• A track record of successfully managing people and processes.
• Deep understanding of planning procedures, building regulations, listed building consents, CDM Regulations, and other third-party requirements.
• Knowledge of the commonly used provisions of the Standard Forms of Contract.
• The ability to robustly interpret and interrogate drawings and technical specifications.
• High attention to detail and quality.
• Excellent time management and problem-solving ability.
• Understanding of software such as AutoDesk, Revit, BIM Collab, or Navisworks.
• A relevant professional qualification or working towards (MCIOB, RIBA, RICS).
• Appropriate CSCS card.
• A construction-related degree (desirable).
• Understanding of cyber and physical security and discretion and diligence in handling sensitive information is essential.

How to Apply

So, if your skill set matches the above and the prospect of helping deliver some of the country’s finest projects appeals to you, please reach out via the button shown. Your application will be processed by Walter Lilly and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as suitable candidates apply. We therefore encourage you to submit ASAP to avoid missing out.