Design Manager in Wakefield, Yorkshire

Design Manager in Wakefield, Yorkshire

Wakefield +1 Full-Time 65000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and manage the design office, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
  • Company: Dynamic company focused on infrastructure and design management.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension, and life insurance.
  • Why this job: Shape innovative designs and lead a talented team in a fast-paced environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in project management and design management, with strong communication skills.
  • Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to work on diverse projects across the UK and internationally.

The predicted salary is between 65000 - 80000 £ per year.

Are you someone who can manage complexity, hold teams accountable, and deliver design outputs that actually help projects succeed? If you’re process-driven, commercially switched-on, and can translate between designers, site teams and clients without losing your mind, then we need to talk. We need someone to run our clients' Design office and make sure design actually gets delivered on time, within budget, and without drama.

You’ll be managing the team, coordinating with external consultants, keeping projects on track, and making sure everything that leaves the office is buildable and compliant. This isn’t a design engineer role; you won’t be sitting doing calculations or drawings. It’s about managing the operation: planning resources, setting up processes that actually work, chairing reviews, challenging designs when they need it, and being the go-to person when projects need design support.

YOUR NEW ROLE

  • Own day-to-day running of the design office across UK and international teams
  • Manage internal resources and external supply chain partners
  • Balance workload, handle recruitment, set up procedures and approval routes
  • Plan programmes, hold people to milestones, manage document control
  • Lead design kick-offs, scope meetings, reviews and technical audits
  • Coordinate teams and consultants to deliver practical, integrated solutions
  • Manage RFIs, change control, queries keep decisions documented
  • Ensure designs meet contract requirements, standards, CDM compliance
  • Drive right-first-time culture, manage non-conformances
  • Set and track design budgets, monitor progress, flag risks early
  • Line manage the team objectives, coaching, performance
  • Champion CDE use and model-based coordination

ABOUT YOU

  • Must have project/business management background, ideally with design management experience in civils/infrastructure or contracting
  • Experience running multi-disciplinary teams across projects, coordinating suppliers
  • Technical literacy to challenge designs (don’t need to produce them, just spot issues)
  • Strong planning, communication skills, comfortable chairing reviews
  • Commercial awareness: budgets, forecasting, NEC contracts, change control
  • CDM 2015 and design risk management knowledge
  • Familiar with CDEs and tools like ProjectWise, Aconex, 365, MS Project

SALARY AND BENEFITS

  • £65,000 - £80,000 depending upon experience
  • Bonus (discretionary)
  • 31 days annual leave
  • Generous Pension
  • Life insurance (4X salary)

Locations

Wakefield Yorkshire

Design Manager in Wakefield, Yorkshire employer: EQUAL RESOURCING LIMITED

Join a dynamic team in Wakefield where your leadership as a Design Manager will be pivotal in driving successful project outcomes. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer generous benefits including 31 days of annual leave and a competitive pension scheme, all within a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation. This role not only allows you to manage complex design operations but also provides the opportunity to shape processes and mentor a talented team, making it an ideal environment for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
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Contact Detail:

EQUAL RESOURCING LIMITED Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Design Manager in Wakefield, Yorkshire

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend design-related events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the lookout for a Design Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your project management experience and successful design outputs. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing – after all, you’re applying for a design role!

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of design management processes and tools. Be ready to discuss how you’ve managed teams and projects in the past, and don’t forget to highlight your commercial awareness and problem-solving skills.

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We make it super easy for you to find and apply for the right roles. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and helps us keep track of your application.

We think you need these skills to ace Design Manager in Wakefield, Yorkshire

Project Management
Team Management
Resource Planning
Process Development
Communication Skills
Commercial Awareness
Design Risk Management
Technical Literacy
Budget Management
Change Control
CDM Compliance
Multi-Disciplinary Coordination
Document Control
CDE Familiarity
Performance Coaching

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in managing design teams and projects. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Design Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!

Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves liaising between designers, site teams, and clients, it’s crucial to demonstrate your strong communication abilities. Use examples from your past experiences where you successfully navigated complex conversations or resolved conflicts.

Highlight Your Project Management Experience: We’re looking for someone who can manage complexity and keep projects on track. Be sure to include specific instances where you’ve planned resources, set up processes, or managed budgets effectively. This will show us you’re the right fit for the job!

Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and consider you for the Design Manager position. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at EQUAL RESOURCING LIMITED

✨Know the Role Inside Out

Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Design Manager role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities like managing teams, coordinating with consultants, and ensuring compliance. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with what they need.

✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills

Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've managed complex projects in the past. Highlight your ability to balance workloads, set up effective processes, and keep everything on track. Use metrics or outcomes to demonstrate your success in previous roles.

✨Prepare for Technical Discussions

While you won't be designing, you'll need to challenge designs effectively. Brush up on your technical literacy related to civils/infrastructure. Be prepared to discuss how you've identified issues in designs before and how you approached those challenges.

✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Awareness

Since the role requires a strong understanding of budgets and contracts, come prepared to discuss your experience with financial management. Talk about how you've handled change control and ensured projects stayed within budget, showcasing your commercial savvy.

Design Manager in Wakefield, Yorkshire
EQUAL RESOURCING LIMITED
Location: Wakefield

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