Senior Qualified Design Manager in London

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Full time, permanent contract

About the role

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Design / Project Manager with more than 5 years of substantial, hands on NEC3/NEC4 contract experience to join our London Design Management group. This role will be central to the delivery of a prestigious, high profile healthcare scheme, requiring someone who possesses a thorough, end to end understanding of the NEC contract, from its core principles to the detailed mechanics of how to administer and manage it effectively. Formal NEC training or qualifications would be highly advantageous.

You will work closely with our Project Directors and multi disciplinary design teams, taking a pivotal leadership role from day one. Your expertise will directly influence project performance, compliance, contractual integrity and successful delivery of the project within the London studio.

About us

BDP is a leading, global, multidisciplinary design practice united by a shared purpose: to design a world that's built for good. For more than 60 years, we've been solving problems, creating innovative spaces, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. From the start, we've been pioneers in the world of design, and our legacy is built on the meaningful, people‑centred places we've brought to life.

We are a diverse, international practice of architects, engineers, designers, and urbanists. We work closely with our clients, users, and communities to craft spaces for living, working, learning, and enjoying life across the globe. With studios spanning the UK, Ireland, Europe, Asia, and North America, our reach is as broad as our expertise. And since joining forces with Japan's Nippon Koei in 2016, our ability to deliver integrated, impactful design has only grown stronger.

Our work is rooted in creativity, quality, and collaboration. We believe that great design removes barriers and opens new possibilities, all while meeting the demands of a constantly evolving world. Whether we're designing homes, workplaces, or public spaces, we always put people at the heart of our thinking, ensuring that the environments we create are not just functional, but also inclusive, beautiful, and socially and environmentally responsible.

We're proud of the places we've shaped and the lives we've touched, and we are committed to continuing our mission of designing a better, more connected world‑one that leaves every place better than we found it.

Overview of Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee design delivery across all workstreams.
• Monitor ongoing design related activities and ensure alignment with contractual obligations.
• Manage project commercials, including comprehensive internal and external cost reporting.
• Lead the monitoring and control of project design risk and issue registers.
• Administer and oversee the RFI process, ensuring correct usage and timely progression.
• Coordinate and track all design activities against programme milestones, including project changes, BDP supply chain, CDM, Planning, BREEAM, H&S, Risk and Assurance.
• Communicate design related challenges to the client's project management team and drive agreed resolutions.
• Lead project delivery from inception to completion, working to project plans developed with BDP team leaders.
• Report project progress and performance to BDP Directors.
• Manage scope changes and ensure accurate, timely contractual notifications in line with NEC requirements.
• Review changes and raise Early Warnings / Compensation Events, identifying impacts on design, determining ownership, and liaising effectively with the client and their project management team.
• Oversee the commenting process, ensuring actions are closed out within agreed timescales and reporting on team performance metrics.
• Identify and address resource gaps to maintain programme integrity.
• Determine resource requirements with Project Directors and design leads to meet programme deadlines.
• Manage project schedules and support BDP specialists with CDM, Building Control and Town Planning.
• Manage and monitor the performance of the supply chain.
• Mentor junior members of the design management team across all aspects of project management.

About You

• Significant experience in a Construction or Engineering environment, particularly on complex schemes.
• Minimum 5 years of proven NEC3/NEC4 contract experience, with strong capability in contract administration and commercial governance.
• NEC qualifications or formal training highly advantageous.
• Degree or Diploma in Architecture, Engineering, Project Management or a related discipline preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organised, proactive and energetic, with strong time management skills.
• A collaborative team player with a willingness to learn and support others.
• Strong mathematical and commercial literacy.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Experience with Asta Powerproject or MS Project beneficial but not essential.
• Able to work independently, manage pressure, and remain adaptable in a fast paced environment.
• Approachable, professional, and confident when working with individuals at all levels.
• Committed to maintaining confidentiality across all BDP activities.
• Dedicated to delivering high quality work with accuracy and consistency.

BDP offers

• A wide range of learning opportunities to encourage personal and professional career development, including sponsorship, profession‑led CPD events, annual appraisals and a mentoring scheme supported by an online learning platform.
• Competitive remuneration and benefits package including an employee profit share scheme, tax efficient smart benefits, private medical insurance, life insurance, long term sickness insurance, interest free season ticket loans, health screening, opportunity to buy/swap holidays and enhanced maternity and paternity provision.
• Regular international and studio based social, sporting and charitable events such as month‑end socials, a hiking club, wellbeing webinars and toolbox talks, along with diverse employee forums that give everyone a platform to have a voice and be heard.
• A commitment to being an employer of choice with a hybrid working policy—usually three days in the office and two days working from home.

In return, BDP can offer you a wide range of learning opportunities to encourage personal and professional career development. From sponsorship to profession led CPD events, we also offer annual appraisals and a mentoring scheme that is supported by our internal online learning platform.

We are committed to being an employer of choice and offer a competitive remuneration and benefits package that includes an employee profit share scheme, tax efficient smart benefits, private medical insurance, life insurance, long term sickness insurance, interest free season ticket loans, health screening, opportunity to buy/swap holidays and enhanced maternity and paternity provision, plus many more.

We offer regular international, and studio based social, sporting and charitable events. Some recent events include month‑end socials, a hiking club, wellbeing webinars and toolbox talks. Our variety of employee forums gives everyone the platform to have a voice and be heard which drives cultural changes and helps to create an engaged, inclusive organisation.

To find out on more detail about what BDP can offer you, please visit apply.

To apply please click on the 'Apply' button below. You will then need to complete the online application form and attach a CV and cover letter.

BDP is actively fostering an inclusive organisation where people can be themselves and everyone has a sense of belonging. We want our teams to be diverse at every level, reflecting the communities we design for. As designers, we will create spaces for all that promote equity, wellbeing and participation within the built environment. We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different skills, professional and life experiences, to join us and help us to achieve our aspirations. We also welcome applications from candidates who wish to work flexibly. BDP also operates a hybrid working policy which is usually three days in the office and two days working from home.

No agency or third‑party applications please.