Principal Design Manager

Direct message the job poster from Ardmore Group

Ardmore has been at the forefront of delivering hundreds of major projects across London, building a reputation for excellence in large-scale phased regeneration schemes. From iconic landmarks like the Corinthia Hotel and Churchill’s Old War Office to transformative developments such as The Ned , our passion and commitment to quality shape everything we do.

We design and build homes, offices, hotels, schools, medical centres, parks, playgrounds – everything that makes our great city thrive. And we do it with innovation, sensitivity, and style!

About the Role

As Principal Design Manager, you will play a pivotal role in managing design processes across a group of projects, from pre-construction through to the end of the Defect Liability Period. This role offers the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive the delivery of high-quality design on complex, large-scale construction projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the design function on multiple projects, ensuring consistent adherence to design processes and quality standards.
• Attend key design meetings across sites, including client and subcontractor meetings, to provide guidance and resolve challenges.
• Oversee design teams, including Senior Design Managers, ensuring appropriate resourcing and mentoring talent.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, including UK Building Regulations, CDM Regulations, and BIM processes.
• Monitor design performance against KPIs and address risks through proactive mitigation strategies.
• Proven track record in successfully managing complex design projects across residential, hotel, commercial, and refurbishment sectors.
• Strong technical knowledge, including understanding of statutory requirements and sustainable construction methodologies.
• Leadership skills to inspire and manage multidisciplinary teams, with excellent communication abilities to engage all stakeholders effectively.
• High commercial awareness and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Passion for delivering high-quality designs that meet client expectations and project timelines.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive medical cover (most pre-existing conditions covered).
• A competitive pension scheme and life assurance (4x your salary).
• 25+ days of annual leave, increasing with service, plus your birthday off.
• Discounts on hundreds of retailers and gyms.
• Cycle-to-work scheme with up to 25% savings on your bike.

Further Information

Please note that this advertisement may not encompass all assigned duties or aspects of the role, which are subject to amendment at Ardmore\’s discretion. For a full role profile, please contact us at

Ardmore is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Reasonable Adjustments

If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us at

Join Ardmore and help shape the future of construction in London! Apply now to make your mark on some of the most exciting projects in the industry.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Design

• Industries

  Construction

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