Senior Design Manager in London

John Sisk & Son have an opportunity for a Senior Design Manager with commercial experience working on a few commercial tenders end-to-end delivery across pre-construction, PCSA, and project execution. As Senior Design Manager you will lead the delivery of effective design across multiple projects, or a single large-scale project. To provide a focus for and lead the pre-construction and construction design processes, liaising with the client, client vendors, the design team, in‑house bid team, operations team and other supporting digital / information functions within the John Sisk & Son business overseeing the design and development of facilities, equipment, and processes within the life sciences & technology sector, ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards. This role shall be client‑facing, with the requirement for wider stakeholder engagement. Travel shall be within the regional geographic of the locations, with a requirement to work between co‑locations (site, office, clients’ offices).

Responsibilities

• Possess a strong understanding of contractual procurement routes and contractual administration, Design & Build (D&B), Engineering Procurement Construction Management (EPCM) Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) JCT and NEC Contracts.
• Possess a strong understanding of life science technologies and processes, including equipment, instrumentation, vendor engagement and workflows.
• Possess a strong understanding of design stage plan of works to reflect client design and procurement work‑stage i.e. RIBA, FEL (Front‑End Engineering Design), Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC).
• Work closely with various stakeholders, including scientists, engineers, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Identify and resolve design and technical issues that may arise during the project lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in design processes and facility operations.
• Manage and mentor design teams, ensuring they have the necessary skills and resources to succeed.
• Provide a focus for and lead the pre‑construction phase briefing and design processes.
• Lead John Sisk & Son design management procedures, providing a functional link between the commercial, construction teams, other John Sisk & Son in‑house digital and innovation support functions and the designers throughout the project life.
• Implement the processes that enable the design to be challenged and interrogated within a collaborative team framework.
• Implement agreed processes for the production, control and distribution of design information at different project stages.
• Ensure regular progress reporting of the design.
• Ensure design information is thoroughly reviewed: for buildability, safety and maintainability, ‘completeness & compliance’ and technical suitability before use.
• Assist the Design Leader in promoting innovation in design management, methodology, processes and practices.
• Assist the Design Leader in promoting the application and adoption of the Company’s vision and values in all design management activities.
• Design for Manufacture and Assembly, and solutions optioneering.
• Manage consultancies.
• Information and Change Control.
• Design compliance (client’s compliance and legislative compliance).
• Provide a mentoring role for junior design managers / coordinators.

Experience

The ideal candidate will be diploma/degree qualified with a minimum of 10 years’ experience. The ideal candidate shall have an exceptional working knowledge of current LST procurement routes, contractual administration and a good understanding of design stage workflows associated within the LST sector. The candidate will have a strong design bias either towards an architectural CSA or engineering MEP background, with a good understanding of the other discipline. They will give support to both the pre‑construction and construction processes, and play a leading role in the review, research, understanding and implementation of innovative design solution to every stage of the design process, and be responsible for leading the tasks and processes of the design team. The ideal candidate will liaise between the client, design consultants and the project staff for design matters, as well as liaising with the Site Management for the development of design package and procurement strategies.

Qualifications

Degree in construction related discipline. Minimum six years’ construction industry experience.

Additional Information

Competitive salary. 26+ days annual leave. Excellent Benefits Package.