Overview
In this Design Manager role, you will coordinate and deliver high-quality design outputs across multiple projects within a public-sector, community-focused context. You’ll report to the Head of Architecture and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to keep projects on time, on budget, and compliant with standards. You’ll lead design meetings, manage information, and uphold quality and regulatory compliance. This is a hands-on, impact-driven position with a strong emphasis on collaboration, sustainability, and design excellence.
Pay / Benefits
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- life assurance of 3x salary
- BUPA Private Medical Insurance
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and birthday leave
- Enhanced paternity and maternity pay
- Funded professional memberships
Responsibilities
- Coordinate internal, outsourced, and contractor-led design activities to maintain programme adherence and quality
- Manage design information, drawings, and specifications across multiple live projects
- Facilitate clear communication and workflow across multidisciplinary teams
- Support and enforce quality management systems and design protocols
- Lead and attend design meetings, providing guidance to consultants and stakeholders
- Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, planning, and building requirements
- Monitor and report on design progress, resource allocation, and project risks
Key requirements
- Experience managing design programmes and multidisciplinary teams in a construction or architectural environment
- Strong communication, coordination, and leadership skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritise tasks, and ensure quality deliverables
- Knowledge of BIM standards, quality management systems, and statutory compliance
- Commitment to equality, diversity, customer care, and sustainability
- Working knowledge of standard forms of contract
- Experience in project/design reviews for quality, safety, and reputational risk
- Experience in sectors such as new build, refurbishment, conservation, retrofit, and sustainable/environmental design
- Commercial controls experience, including forecasting and value for money delivery
- Strong understanding of multidisciplinary teams (structural, civil, electrical, mechanical engineering)
- Experience managing projects and teams, ensuring budgetary control and meeting deadlines
- Knowledge of design, construction and environmental issues, including legislative requirements (CDM, Building Regulations, Building Safety Act)
- Understanding of cost planning, tenders, and financial control
- Strong knowledge of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and digital construction practices (including ISO 19650)
- Strong communication
- Coordination
- Leadership
- Knowledge of BIM standards (ISO 19650)
- Digital construction practices
- Microsoft Office
Design Manager-Public Sector employer: Hays
Join a well-established ecological consultancy in Kent that prioritises work-life balance and professional development. With a collaborative team culture and a commitment to delivering high-quality ecological advice, this company offers meaningful career progression opportunities for ecologists. Enjoy flexible working arrangements and the chance to work on diverse projects across the South East and beyond.
