Design Manager- Fixed term in London

The Design Manager role plays a pivotal part in ensuring that creative design is fully detailed and coordinated with practical execution. Within the design & build framework, the role leads the technical delivery of projects — aligning design intent, documentation, cost, programme, and construction. It involves coordinating internal and external teams, clients, consultants, and contractors, while producing high-quality, compliant, and buildable technical design delivered on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Strategy: Work as a leading member of each project team, understand your roles and responsibilities and those of others, own and close items as they arise, ensure good communication throughout to project end.
• Provide technical interaction across all design phases, guiding all members of the extended Professional Design team including Pre Construction, Commercial and Construction.
• Lead project reviews to ensure design integrity, technical coordination, inclusivity, and compliance.
• Stay ahead of design trends and emerging technologies — especially in regard to compliance and sustainability.
• Attend and take part in internal and external events to further promote Oktra and the work we do.

• Project Delivery/Technical Development: Understand ‘The Oktra Way’ — our processes, standards, sustainability practices, quality measures, and compliance requirements — across all roles and responsibilities.
• Strategise projects, clients in regard to winning strategies, de-risking, quality control, competency and compliance amongst others project specific.
• Manage client expectations and maintain clear communication on technical aspects of the design.
• Oversee/create the technical design documentation from schematics, sketches through to construction.
• Lead/create the design coordination between architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, public health etc., and the full construction team.
• Translate the conceptual designs into detailed, buildable solutions without compromising design intent, cost, compliance, or programme.
• Review/create all technical drawing packages from design development to construction documentation including practical completion.
• Oversee/assist in the resolution of complex design challenges related to structure, finishes, systems, and constructability.
• Ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance in all technical drawings, documentation, and specifications.
• Review reference materials and site documentation to ensure design accuracy through allocated projects.
• Enforce technical design standards and best practices.
• Support the Design team by offering solutions that balance aesthetic goals with practical execution.

• Mentoring & Review: Mentor and develop internal design and technical teams.
• Provide training, mentorship, and technical leadership to ensure consistent standards.
• Allocate resources and manage workloads across multiple allocated projects.

• Quality & Risk Management: Conduct quality assurance and control reviews.
• Identify design risks early and provide proactive technical solutions.
• Ensure proper documentation and coordination to minimise site issues and redesigns, and risks.

• Coordination: Collaborate closely with Pre Construction, Commercial, Project Managers, site teams, consultants, and clients etc. as a professional team to ensure absolute project success.
• Coordinate with consultants, suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders to resolve design and technical challenges.
• Ensure all documentation is fully coordinated and up to date with design changes, construction methods, and site constraints.
• Lead technical review meetings and ensure issues are logged, tracked, and resolved.
• Coordinate and complete (when required) clash detection and coordination meetings using Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools (e.g., Revit, Navisworks).

• Documentation & Standards including Compliance: Organise and maintain drawing files, naming conventions, and documentation sets to maintain company standards and industry best practices.
• Prepare and review drawing packages for tender, authority approvals, and construction.
• Ensure that all designs comply with relevant codes, standards, regulations, and client specifications including to cost and programme approval.
• Assist in preparing and submitting permit drawings, planning applications, Building Regulations submissions etc. from creation of documentation to success application approval.
• Ensure compliance with the company role of Principal Designer under Construction (Design & Management) (CDM) Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act.
• Ensure team compliance and competency including the wider professional project team when required.
• Ensure compliance with the role of Designer under Construction (Design & Management) (CDM), Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act.

• Site & Construction Support: Support site teams with technical information, clarifications, and revisions during construction.
• Respond to Requests for Information (RFI's), review of shop drawings, manage change control alongside the construction teams to all specific projects.
• Ensure all practical completion documentation, including Health & Safety incorporating Operation & Maintenance (H&S+O&M) files, as builts and residual risk registers is to a high quality and present.
• Participate in internal team meetings and coordination reviews when necessary.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, or similar related field.
• 6+ years of experience in technical design, management, and project delivery ideally within a design & build or fast-paced multidisciplinary environment.
• Proficient in Revit, BIM coordination tools, AutoCAD, and other design software’s.
• Common Date Environment (CDE) experience preferable but not essential (Oktra use ACC Autodesk Construction Cloud).

Desirable skills:

• Excellent communication skills verbal and visual, good problem solving capabilities.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating a range of design capabilities including competency, compliance, hand sketching, effective communication, technical design detailing, technical coordination, programming, and processes.
• Experience with fast-track or design & build procurement models, preferably commercial sector.
• Good knowledge & experience of sustainability certifications (LEED, WELL, BREEAM etc.).
• Robust design sensibility with a pragmatic approach to construction and execution & strong problem-solving and technical decision-making ability.
• Detail-oriented with a hands-on approach to quality and delivery.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Proactive and hands-on, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Strong drafting and documentation skills.
• Strong knowledge of construction detailing, building codes, and material technologies.
• Excellent leadership, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
• Regulatory knowledge of CDM 2015, Building Regulations and all associated documentation, Risk Assessments and Residual Risk Registers, Golden Thread.