Technical Design Manager/ Technical Coordinator

Cobalt is working with a growing London-based investment platform, part of a major international real estate developer, to hire a Technical Design Manager / Technical Coordinator for their expanding team. The business is active across residential-led and mixed-use opportunities throughout London, with a strong pipeline of Build-to-Rent and repositioning schemes in prime urban locations. This opportunity offers direct exposure to senior decision-makers within an entrepreneurial environment where individuals are given real responsibility and visibility across the full development lifecycle.

Reporting directly to the Development Director, you will play a key role in the technical coordination and delivery of projects from post-planning through to construction, handover and completion. You will work closely with architects, consultants, contractors and internal stakeholders to ensure projects are coordinated efficiently, commercially and in line with programme objectives.

• Support the Development Director in the technical development and delivery of schemes from post-planning through construction and completion.
• Review, prepare, and coordinate architectural drawing packages, technical details, schedules, and specifications for tender, construction, and as-built stages.
• Translate concept and planning-stage information into robust technical design information and coordinated construction packages.
• Manage and review consultant information to ensure architectural, structural, MEP, fire, façade, interior, and landscape packages are integrated and clash-free.
• Coordinate design information in line with the project brief, planning conditions, Building Regulations, warranty requirements, and employer standards.
• Assist in discharging planning conditions, reviewing planning drawings, and ensuring technical submissions remain aligned with approved consent.
• Liaise with external architects, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, statutory authorities, approved inspectors, and utility providers.
• Review and comment on material proposals, sample submissions, mock-ups, and technical submissions to ensure suitability, durability, compliance, and consistency with design intent.
• Attend design team meetings, technical workshops, and site meetings; record actions and track technical deliverables through to closure.
• Conduct site inspections and monitor construction progress against technical drawings and specifications, identifying non-conformances, design issues, and coordination gaps.
• Respond to RFIs, technical queries, and drawing/comments workflows in a timely and commercially aware manner.
• Support quality assurance processes, including review of benchmarks, sample apartments, façade interfaces, common parts, and finishing standards.
• Contribute to design risk reviews and support compliance with health and safety obligations, including design-stage coordination under CDM where relevant.
• Help maintain document control standards, revision management, drawing registers, and audit trails for all technical information.
• Review accessibility, space planning, and apartment layouts in line with relevant UK residential requirements and best practice, including where applicable London Plan, NDSS, and M4 standards often seen on residential schemes.
• Support handover documentation, O&M information coordination, snagging close-out, and production/review of as-built records.
• Prepare and coordinate feasibility layouts, massing studies, and early-stage technical assessments to support acquisition, planning, and development appraisal activities.

• 4-8+ years' experience in a technical delivery role on UK residential projects across Build-to-Rent, student accommodation or high-density housing.
• Relevant qualification in Architecture, Architectural Technology, Construction, Building Studies or similar.
• Strong experience delivering UK residential schemes through RIBA Stages 3-5.
• Proven technical design and coordination experience across medium to large-scale residential or mixed-use developments.
• Strong understanding of UK Building Regulations, construction detailing and buildability.
• Experience managing external architects, consultants, contractors and subcontractors.
• Comfortable attending site regularly and resolving technical issues during construction.
• Experience preparing feasibility studies, test fits and development appraisals advantageous.

• Strong technical coordination and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to review architectural, structural and MEP information for coordination and compliance.
• Good understanding of BIM workflows, construction sequencing and site logistics.
• Confident communicator with consultants, contractors and site teams.
• Knowledge of UK planning compliance and statutory approval processes.
• Proficient in AutoCAD; Revit experience preferred.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance design, cost and programme considerations.
• Strong residential layout and space planning capability.
• Ability to assess and develop early-stage development options and capacity studies.