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- Tasks: Lead and inspire a high-performing design management team in residential development.
- Company: Growing residential developer based in Leeds with a focus on design excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of care environments and make a real impact in the community.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior design management and strong team leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with excellent career growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Head of Design Management to lead and shape the design function within a growing residential developer based in Leeds. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for building, managing, and inspiring a high-performing design management team, while ensuring design excellence across the full development lifecycle.
Working closely with Land, Planning, Development, Construction, and Commercial teams, you will play a pivotal role in delivering compliant, commercially robust, and high-quality care environments that support long-term operational success.
Key Responsibilities- Leadership & People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-disciplinary Design Management team, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
- Set clear objectives, development plans, and performance standards for team members.
- Build succession planning, capability, and capacity within the design function to support business growth.
- Act as a senior leader within the organisation, promoting best practice, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Design Strategy & Governance
- Define and implement the design management strategy aligned with business and operational objectives.
- Establish clear design standards, processes, and governance frameworks across all projects.
- Oversee consultant appointments, performance, and fee management.
- Ensure consistency of design quality, compliance, and brand identity across the portfolio.
- Project & Stakeholder Management
- Provide senior oversight across multiple projects from site acquisition and planning through to delivery and handover.
- Work closely with Planning and Land teams to support planning gain opportunities and optimise site potential.
- Act as a key internal and external stakeholder interface, including local authorities, design consultants, operators, and construction teams.
- Identify and manage design risk, ensuring issues are resolved proactively and collaboratively.
- Commercial & Programme Awareness
- Ensure designs are deliverable, cost-effective, and aligned with programme requirements.
- Support value engineering exercises without compromising quality, compliance, or operational needs.
- Contribute to development appraisals and strategic decision-making at senior level.
- Proven experience in a senior design management leadership role, ideally within residential or mixed-use development.
- Strong track record of managing, developing, and leading teams within a design or technical environment.
- Deep understanding of the planning system and experience supporting planning gain or land-led development strategies.
- Commercially astute with excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Collaborative, people-focused leader who can balance strategic oversight with hands-on support.
- Relevant professional qualification (RIBA, ARB, CIOB, ICE or similar) desirable.
Head of Design in Leeds employer: tdm recruitment
Contact Detail:
tdm recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Head of Design role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your portfolio! Make sure to have a well-organised portfolio that highlights your best design projects. We want to see your creativity and how you've led teams to success, so don’t hold back!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their design philosophy and recent projects. We want you to walk in confident, ready to discuss how you can elevate their design management strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Design role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant projects you've worked on that align with our design management strategy. We want to see how you can inspire a high-performing team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your vision for design excellence and how you plan to foster collaboration within our teams. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Quantify your successes where possible, like how you improved design quality or led a successful project. We’re all about results here at StudySmarter!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at tdm recruitment
✨Know Your Design Management Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest design management strategies and trends, especially in residential development. Brush up on your knowledge of the planning system and be ready to discuss how you've successfully led teams in similar environments.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership and mentoring skills. Think about specific instances where you’ve built high-performing teams or fostered a collaborative culture. This will demonstrate your ability to inspire and manage a diverse design team.
✨Understand Stakeholder Dynamics
Familiarise yourself with the key stakeholders you’ll be working with, such as local authorities and construction teams. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve effectively managed relationships and resolved conflicts in past projects.
✨Be Commercially Savvy
Brush up on your commercial awareness and be ready to talk about how you ensure designs are cost-effective and aligned with programme requirements. Highlight any experience you have with value engineering and how it didn’t compromise quality.
