LST Senior Design Manager

John Sisk & Son has an opportunity for a Design Manager or a time-served Design Manager ready to take the next step towards a Senior Design Manager. This role involves joining a growing team within the Life Science & Technology sector. As Design Manager, you will lead the delivery of effective design across multiple projects or a single large-scale project. Your responsibilities include overseeing pre-construction and construction design processes, liaising with clients, vendors, design teams, in-house bid teams, operations, and digital/information functions within John Sisk & Son. The role involves overseeing design and development of facilities, equipment, and processes within the life sciences & technology sector, ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards. This position is client-facing and requires wider stakeholder engagement. Travel will be within the regional geographic locations, with a requirement to work across co-locations (site, office, clients’ offices).

Responsibilities

• Understand contractual procurement routes and administration, including Design & Build (D&B), Engineering Procurement Construction Management (EPCM), Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC), JCT, and NEC Contracts.
• Have a strong understanding of life science technologies, including equipment, instrumentation, vendor engagement, and workflows.
• Understand design stage plans reflecting client design and procurement work-stages, e.g., RIBA, FEL, AEC.
• Collaborate with stakeholders such as scientists, engineers, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Identify and resolve design and technical issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities for process and operational improvements.
• Manage and mentor design teams, ensuring they have the necessary skills and resources.
• Lead pre-construction phase briefing and design processes.
• Manage design procedures, serving as a link between commercial, construction, digital, innovation, and design teams.
• Implement collaborative processes for design challenge and review.
• Control and distribute design information at various project stages.
• Ensure regular progress reporting on design.
• Review design information for buildability, safety, maintainability, compliance, and technical suitability.
• Promote innovation in design management, methodology, and practices.
• Support the promotion of the company's vision and values in design activities.
• Focus on Design for Manufacture and Assembly, solutions optioneering, and managing consultancies.
• Handle information and change control.
• Ensure design compliance with client and legislative requirements.
• Mentor junior design managers/co-ordinators.
• Support pre-construction and construction processes, leading research and implementation of innovative design solutions.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience.
• Exceptional knowledge of current LST procurement routes, contracts, and design workflows within the sector.
• Strong design bias towards architectural CSA or engineering MEP, with good understanding of the other.
• Ability to liaise effectively with clients, design consultants, project staff, and site management for design matters.

Qualifications

• Construction or Engineering diploma/degree.

Additional Information

• Competitive salary.
• Company Car (depending on role).
• Pension, annual bonus, and 26+ days annual leave.
• Additional benefits.
• Our people are at the heart of our success. We offer work with purpose, work-life balance, career growth, and a collaborative environment.
• Our internal recruitment team handles all vacancies. Unsolicited contact by agencies sharing CVs is not accepted.
• We are committed to diversity and encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply, emphasizing transferable skills beyond technical expertise.