Design Manager in London

We are looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to join our Fit Out team, supporting high-quality refurbishment, workplace and interior fit-out projects across London. This is a hands-on role for someone who understands the pace, detail and coordination required to take complex Cat B schemes from pre-construction and design development through delivery, commissioning and handover. You will be at the centre of the project team, protecting design intent while making sure every detail is buildable, coordinated and commercially deliverable.

Working closely with clients, architects, consultants, specialist subcontractors and our site teams, you will resolve interfaces early, drive technical decisions and help turn ambitious concepts into exceptional finished spaces. The role offers real autonomy to influence design, quality, programme and the customer experience.

Key Duties

• Lead the design management process from tender and pre-construction through detailed design, construction, commissioning and handover on fast-paced fit-out projects.
• Coordinate interiors, MEP, specialist joinery, ceilings, partitions, finishes, furniture, AV/IT and other subcontractor design packages, ensuring interfaces are fully resolved before installation.
• Work closely with clients, architects and consultants to protect the design vision while challenging details for buildability, value, programme and compliance.
• Drive design workshops, technical reviews and early coordination to close out information gaps, design changes and clashes quickly, particularly where projects interface with existing buildings, landlord works or live base-build environments.
• Own design information flow, approvals, trackers, samples, benchmarks and technical submissions, ensuring the site team has the right information at the right time and that quality expectations are understood before works commence.

About You

You will be a proactive, detail-focused Design Manager who is comfortable operating at the sharp end of fit-out delivery. You will combine strong technical judgement with the pace, collaboration and commercial awareness needed to deliver high-specification interiors to demanding programmes.

You will bring:

• Proven design management experience on commercial fit-out, workplace, high-specification interiors, ideally including Cat B projects delivered on fast-track programmes.
• Strong technical knowledge of interior construction, finishes and building services interfaces, with the ability to interrogate drawings and specifications, identify coordination risks and translate design intent into practical, buildable solutions.
• Experience coordinating architects, consultants and specialist subcontractors across packages such as partitions, ceilings, bespoke joinery, doors, flooring, lighting, MEP, AV/IT and furniture, with a strong eye for detail and quality.
• Confident management of design information and approvals, including design release schedules, RFIs, change control, samples, mock-ups/benchmarks, technical submissions and close-out information; BIM/model-based design review experience is advantageous.
• Excellent client-facing, stakeholder and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to chair design workshops, challenge constructively and balance design quality, cost, programme, compliance and buildability to achieve the best finished product.

A construction, architectural, engineering or design-related qualification is desirable, although strong fit-out experience and a demonstrable track record of delivery will be equally valued. Professional membership (e.g. CIOB) is advantageous.

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive salary and car allowance.
• 26 days annual leave, with the option to buy or sell up to 3 days.
• Additional long service leave at 3, 7, and 10 years.
• Private medical insurance (with option to extend to family).
• Life assurance and pension matched up to 8%.
• Enhanced family leave policies.
• 2 volunteering days per year.
• Flexible and agile working (role dependent).
• Employee Assistance Programme, including financial advice.
• Payment of professional membership fees.
• Access to “Perks at Work” discount platform.
• Flexible benefits including critical illness cover, dental insurance, travel insurance, cycle to work scheme, and retail vouchers.

Who We Are

Tilbury Douglas is a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out company. Our Fit Out business delivers high-quality interior and refurbishment projects, combining the technical strength and assurance of a major contractor with the agility, attention to detail and customer focus required in the fit-out market. Our people are at the heart of our success. We want our teams to take ownership, collaborate closely and find better ways to deliver. We are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages innovation and celebrates individual differences, and we are proud to hold Investors in Diversity status.

Please note: we do not hold a sponsorship licence. This role is subject to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance. We look forward to receiving your application.