Head of Technical in Manchester

A regional house builder has a requirement for a Head of Technical to head up their Design & Technical team. The company is a growing business with an impressive pipeline of new developments for 2026 ranging from 50 units to 400+ units.

Reporting to the Director, the Head of Technical will ensure the effective running of the Technical department and ensure all developments are compliant with specifications and statutory requirements along with providing support to the construction team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare and implement sufficient processes and procedures to ensure the effective running of the Department.
• Undertake regular design progress meetings to ensure designs are progressing, providing updates identifying risks and opportunities to Directors.
• Prepare technical scope of works for Consultants in line with requirements outlined by the development team.
• Support the development and commercial team to ensure that accurate development costings are prepared.
• Issue briefs to design consultants and design sub-contractors and manage them to support in their preparation and issue of production information.
• Ensure that working drawings are compliant with the approved planning consent, contract specifications, building regulations and any other relevant standard.
• Ensure that all statutory enquiries, crossovers, sewer connections and other section agreements are submitted and pursued for their timely return and agreement.
• Monitor and control all production information in liaison with the project QS, development team and construction department to ensure tight cost controls are maintained.
• Review and provide approval to all drawings to show the content has been reviewed and complies with building regulations and any other relevant standards.
• Manage the distribution of preliminary, construction and as built information internally.
• Review designs for compliance with fire stopping requirements, prepare fire stopping specifications and work with quality and construction teams to ensure compliance across developments.
• Review materials being used during the development to ensure compliance with the approved planning consent, building regulations and contract requirements.
• Support the commercial team to produce trade specifications. Undertake review of trade specifications to ensure compliance with relevant standards.
• Review any sub-contractor design to ensure compliance with the approved planning consent, building regulations, contract requirements and any other relevant standard.
• Undertake regular visits to sites to ensure that materials being used are as per the prepared material specifications.
• Work with Construction Director / Contract Managers to ensure sufficient technical construction details are available to the site teams.
• Ensure Building Regulation and Warranty conditions are cleared without delay to the project and without risk to the business.
• Ensure planning conditions are discharged in a timely manner and maintain planning trackers.

Skills and Experience Required

• Good operating knowledge of the development and technical design process.
• Proven knowledge of detailed design for residential schemes utilising different forms of construction including traditional build, timber frame, steel frame and masonry.
• Architectural or engineering background with the ability to use AutoCad.
• Solid understanding of statutory requirements, including Building Regulations and LABC warranty standards.
• An ability to understand and interrogate design and project programmes.
• Educated to a degree level or in possession of a relevant professional qualification.
• Able to communicate with all disciplines at all levels.
• Well organised and capable of organising others.
• Strong team player with excellent communication skills.

Benefits

The company is offering a competitive salary along with a car allowance and various company benefits including 25 days leave (increases with service), volunteering days, pension (increases with service), life assurance, health plan, employee assistance programmes and employee discounts.