Design Manager in Rochdale

We’re an award‑winning, Manchester‑based, family‑owned construction business with a clear purpose at the heart of everything we do: Improving Lives. At Casey, we don’t just build projects – we create places that help people live, work and thrive. Our passionate team is driven by making a genuine, positive difference, not only through the spaces we deliver but through the impact we leave behind in the communities we serve. Our work goes beyond the built environment. We champion local employment, skills development and sustainable practices, creating opportunities and better futures along the way. From apprenticeships and training to supporting local charities and delivering safe, welcoming environments, people always come first. If you want to be part of a business where purpose, people and quality truly matter – and where your work helps improve lives every day – you’ll feel at home at Casey.

Who are we looking for? We are seeking an experienced professional with a strong background in complex refurbishment projects, including high‑rise, retrofit, and listed buildings for this newly created position within our Building Refurbishment division. Reporting to the Construction Manager, you’ll have a detailed understanding of Building Regulations, the Building Safety Act, and PAS 2035/2038 standards, ensuring that every stage of design and delivery is compliant, safe, and of the highest quality. With excellent attention to detail, you’ll be confident in interpreting complex legislation, contracts, and technical documentation. Your proactive approach will help you identify risks early, implement effective solutions, and establish robust processes that support successful project outcomes. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities will be essential.

You will also play a pivotal role in coordinating architects, engineers, and specialist consultants to ensure refurbishment designs meet current legislation, contractual requirements, and client expectations. By leading reviews, approvals, and compliance checks, you’ll help ensure that projects are delivered efficiently while maintaining design integrity and regulatory assurance. Collaboration and communication will be key to your success in this role. You’ll be a trusted advisor to project teams, offering clear guidance, mentoring colleagues, and sharing lessons learned to drive continuous improvement across the business.

The Detail

• Provide advice, support, and mentorship to teams, fostering a culture of best practice, teamwork, and alignment with Casey’s purpose and values.
• Lead on Design & Compliance throughout procurement, construction, and handover, ensuring alignment with statutory/regulatory frameworks (e.g., Building Safety Act, Gateway requirements, PAS 2035).
• Review tender and design documents to identify compliance, contractual, and design risks, advising pre‑construction and delivery teams on mitigation strategies.
• Manage Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 submissions, ensuring evidence and compliance requirements are met.
• Oversee refurbishment projects from feasibility through to completion, embedding compliance, safety, and design integrity at every stage.
• Collaborate with Health & Safety, Commercial, and Delivery teams to assess design risks, programme impact, and safe systems of work.
• Manage and coordinate architects, engineers, and specialist consultants to ensure designs meet legislation, regulations, and client requirements.
• Lead design reviews, risk workshops, and approvals of technical submissions, ensuring buildability, sustainability, and compliance.
• Build and maintain client relationships, supporting business development and negotiating new opportunities.
• Develop and maintain standardised internal procedures, compliance checklists, and best practice approaches tailored to refurbishment, high‑risk, and heritage projects.

What we offer you:

• Salary up to £85,000 depending on experience
• Car Allowance of £5,500 per annum
• Pension Scheme – We contribute 2.5% more than the employee's pension contribution, up to a maximum of 7.5% (e.g., employee puts 5% in, Casey puts 7.5% in)
• Life Assurance/Death‑in‑Service benefit – Equivalent to 3x your salary
• Access to our Casey Benefits portal – discounts on shopping, days out, gym memberships etc.
• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays (2‑week shutdown at Christmas)
• Casey Loyalty Scheme – receive 1 extra day’s holiday for every year you work at Casey
• Option to buy, sell or carry over up to 5 days holiday each year
• Bi‑annual company wellbeing day
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 access for employees and their families
• Free eye test and discounted eye wear
• Access to our online training platform
• Tusker Car Scheme – Lease a fully‑expensed car through this salary sacrifice scheme

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

At The Casey Group, we’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with respect and fairly. We actively promote good practice in eliminating discrimination and ensure our recruitment processes are transparent and based on skills, experience and potential. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are proud to build teams that reflect the communities we serve. If you require any adjustments during the process, please let us know.

Recruitment Agencies

Casey manages all recruitment in-house and does not accept speculative CVs from agencies. Any CVs sent to us without prior agreement — including those sent directly to hiring managers or other stakeholders within the business — will be considered a gift, and we will not be liable for any fees should we choose to engage with the candidate directly. CVs will only be accepted where prior authorisation has been given by Casey’s Recruitment Partner.