Design Manager (Construction)

Permanent – Full Time (37.5 hours per week) We are seeking a driven and enthusiastic individual to join our expanding regional team as a Design Manager, based in Norwich with regular travel to Harleston. This role requires a candidate with a solid technical background and a proactive mindset toward project delivery. Experience in delivering extra-care facility or Commercial construction projects is essential for success in this position. Reporting to the Regional Technical Director you will be responsible for ensuring the timely progression of schemes through all pre-construction stages, contract milestones, site start and beyond. You will be responsible for scoping, appointing, coordinating, and managing the consultant teams. This includes setting up and chairing meetings to ensure programme requirements are met efficiently and effectively. You’ll drive progress through the early stages of any planning, legal, statutory and financial processes while actively managing risk and maintaining the financial viability of each scheme. The role requires regular internal and external reporting on all stages of development, progress against programme milestones, and management of development expenses. You will present updates to the executive team, stakeholders, and board as required. You will have an in-depth understanding of contracts and contract documentation, construction methods, and procurement strategies. A solid grasp of planning techniques, environmental legislation, and construction materials is essential, as is a working knowledge of design principles and health & safety compliance. To succeed in this role, you’ll need strong negotiation skills and experience managing external consultants and internal stakeholders across multiple disciplines. Familiarity with modern management systems and the ability to drive progress against key programme milestones is a must. You’ll also be confident using Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and project planning tools such as Microsoft Project or ASTA, to effectively manage timelines, reporting, and documentation. Benefits * Bonus entitlement based on performance KPIs * Holidays – 26 days * Life Assurance * Pension * Private medical insurance * Ability to purchase additional holiday * Access to discount portal * Cycle to Work scheme and the Lovell Way to EV (car salary sacrifice) * Digital GP * Employee assistance programme * Sharesave scheme As an Investors in People Gold award employer, Lovell is the UK’s leading provider of mixed tenure affordable homes and has a reputation for innovation and excellence in the delivery of high-quality housing development and regeneration projects. We are committed to enhancing the communities in which we work, building quality homes for real people and looking after our own people; developing talent is key to achieving this. We understand that the success of our organisation comes from the strengths, skills and personalities of our people. Lovell is an equal opportunities employer who encourage and value diversity and inclusion within our teams. The Lovell culture is one that has been successful for many years. It is based on empowering colleagues to make decisions at a regional and local level, and to challenge the status quo whilst working as one to achieve our goals and make Lovell a great place to work for all