Design Manager in Leeds

The Design Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating the design process on multidisciplinary buildings projects, ensuring that design solutions are fully integrated, buildable, and aligned to programme, cost and quality requirements. Working closely with Project Managers and technical discipline leads, the role focuses on design leadership, coordination, and technical assurance, particularly within Design & Build and contractor‑led delivery environments. This role suits individuals with strong design management experience who are comfortable managing complex interfaces between designers, contractors and clients, and who want to play a key role in delivering high‑quality buildings projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design leadership & coordination – Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams across all project stages; develop and manage the design brief, ensuring clarity on scope, interfaces and deliverables; coordinate design outputs across internal teams, contractors and external consultants.
• Design planning & integration – Develop and manage the design programme, aligned with overall project delivery plans; support the integration of design, procurement and construction activities; work with Project Managers to ensure alignment between design progression and project milestones.
• Technical assurance & compliance – Oversee design reviews, technical assurance processes and quality checks; ensure designs comply with relevant standards, codes and client requirements; monitor design risks and manage technical issues throughout the lifecycle.
• Stakeholder engagement – Act as the primary point of coordination for design‑related matters; engage effectively with clients, contractors and stakeholders to resolve design challenges; support clear communication of design intent and changes across the project team.
• Risk, value & commercial alignment – Identify and manage design and technical risks, supporting mitigation strategies; align design solutions with project cost, programme and commercial objectives; collaborate with commercial and delivery teams to ensure outputs are deliverable within agreed budgets; contribute to value engineering and optimisation of design solutions.
• Leadership & collaboration – Support and mentor design teams, promoting a collaborative and high‑performing environment; contribute to bid and early‑stage project development activities where required.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Architecture, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience in design management within the buildings or built environment sector.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams and managing design interfaces.
• Experience in Design & Build and/or contractor‑led delivery environments.
• Good understanding of design coordination and integration, technical assurance and compliance, and project risk management.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience working on large or complex buildings projects across sectors such as defence, health, aviation, education.
• Experience on secure or regulated projects.
• Chartered status (or working towards) in a relevant discipline.
• Understanding of UK design standards and statutory requirements.
• Security clearance (or eligibility to obtain clearance for project‑specific roles).

Benefits

• Financial wellbeing – pension contributions matched between 4.5% and 7% of salary; life assurance up to 4 times basic salary (optional increase to 6 times); income protection scheme; flexible benefits including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing; annual bonus schemes.
• Employee ownership – no external investors; employees have a stake and a voice, with direct connection to success through personal and group performance bonuses; senior roles have direct pathway towards ownership from day one.
• Health and wellbeing – private medical insurance for all UK colleagues; health cash plan; access to Peppy for menopause support; comprehensive wellbeing program for you and your family; ability to flex salary to opt into health benefits (extendable to family).
• Holiday – a minimum of 33–35 days holiday each year (inclusive of public holidays), with the option to buy or sell leave through flexible benefits; increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years of service.
• Additional leave – enhanced family and carers leave: 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave; two weeks paid paternity/partner leave; shared parental leave matches maternity (up to 24 weeks full pay); up to five additional days for significant caring responsibilities (two paid).
• Professional development – primary annual professional institution subscription; mentoring, formal training and self‑development options.
• Networks and community – participation in Advanced Employee Networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, parents/carers communities; social outcomes initiatives.
• Flexible benefits – variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.