At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design teams on innovative infrastructure projects and tackle complex challenges.
- Company: Join a rapidly expanding company focused on critical utility and social infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a commitment to inclusivity and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in communities while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior design management and strong leadership capabilities.
The predicted salary is between 47250 - 57750 £ per year.
United Infrastructure is a dynamic and rapidly expanding business, focused on delivering critical infrastructure projects across the utility and social infrastructure sectors. Our team of highly skilled and hardworking specialists deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges our clients face.
Our company is split into two business areas:
- Utility Infrastructure – Our team of Utility Infrastructure specialists design, build and maintain critical water, energy (gas), power and telecoms infrastructure for the UK’s largest network owners and operators.
- Social Infrastructure – Our team of Social Infrastructure specialists revitalise homes and communities by carrying out a wide range of work, from retrofit to refurbishment, and maintenance.
The Principal Design Lead (PDL) will provide senior technical leadership across multiple schemes, bridging the gap between project-level design management and strategic technical oversight. The role is responsible for leading bid-stage technical input, managing escalated design and delivery issues across projects, and supporting the Head of Technical in driving consistency, compliance, and performance across the Technical Team. The PDL will oversee and mentor Senior Design Managers and Design Managers, while also retaining hands-on responsibility for key or complex projects where required.
Responsibilities
- Provide leadership across multiple projects, supporting Senior Design Managers and Design Managers in delivering coordinated, compliant, and buildable design solutions.
- Act as the escalation point for technical and design issues across all schemes, driving timely resolution and risk mitigation.
- Lead and coordinate technical input into bids, including design appraisals, programme development, consultant strategies, risk identification, and value engineering opportunities.
- Support the Head of Technical in ensuring consistency of design management practices, standards, and procedures across all projects.
- Provide oversight of design programmes across multiple schemes, ensuring alignment with overall business and project objectives.
- Where required, undertake full design management responsibility for a project, delivering in line with programme, budget, and compliance requirements.
- Mentor and develop Senior Design Managers and Design Managers, providing guidance, coaching, and technical support.
- Review and challenge design information to ensure compliance with legislation, company standards, planning approvals, and client requirements.
- Support the implementation and adherence to Technical Operating Procedures across all schemes.
- Coordinate with Commercial, Operations, and Bid teams to ensure design solutions are practical, cost-effective, and aligned with delivery strategies.
- Review project-specific design scoping and procurement strategies for consultants and subcontractor designers.
- Support the review and approval of consultant and subcontractor designer competency assessments.
- Monitor consultant and subcontractor design performance across projects.
- Ensure robust management of design change control processes across schemes.
- Support and oversee the timely submission of planning, building control, and statutory approvals.
- Promote best practice in design coordination, including fire safety, structural integrity, MEP integration, façade design, and maintenance strategies.
- Chair or support key design coordination meetings, workshops, and reviews on complex or high-risk schemes.
- Ensure effective communication of technical information across teams and departments.
- Carry out site visits as required to support project teams and resolve technical issues.
- Always comply with company policies, procedures, and health, safety, and environmental requirements.
What we need from you
- Doing the right thing
- Raising the bar
- Positive attitude and energetic pace
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Integrity
- Ability to make things happen – starter/finisher
- Tact and the ability to deal with difficult situations
- Proactive
- Ability to challenge the norm and look for alternative solutions (positive deviance)
- Ability to work under pressure and multi-task
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Passionate to achieve exceptional standards for business and personal gain
Criteria - Essential
- Proven experience operating at a senior design management level across multiple residential or mixed-use projects
- Strong leadership capability, with experience managing and mentoring Design Managers
- Ability to operate across both strategic (multi-project oversight, bids) and project-level delivery
- Extensive knowledge of design management processes across all project stages (bid, pre-construction, construction, handover)
- Strong technical understanding of building design, coordination, and regulatory compliance
- Experience leading or contributing significantly to bid-stage technical submissions
- Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate technical and design risks across multiple schemes
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability, particularly on complex or escalated issues
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels (internal teams, clients, consultants)
- Ability to prioritise and manage competing demands across multiple projects
- Up-to-date knowledge of construction legislation, including: Building Safety Act, Building Regulations (including Dutyholder roles), HRB procedures and compliance requirements
- Commercial awareness, with the ability to balance design quality and cost-effectiveness
- Experience coordinating and reviewing consultant performance and outputs
- High-rise residential experience
- Strong organisational and reporting capability
- Proven track record of successfully managing all aspects of the design and technical process in relation to residential buildings
- Up to date relevant construction industry knowledge including legislation and procedures.
- Valid driving license
- Knowledge of methodology and sequencing process in delivering a construction project including design and pre-construction activities
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- High rise development experience
- Understanding of the building safety legislative framework, including the Building Safety Act, Building Regulations (Dutyholder roles)
Principal Design Lead employer: United Infrastructure Ltd
United Infrastructure Ltd is an exceptional employer located in Warrington, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee development and career progression. With a strong commitment to compliance and best HR practices, the company provides generous benefits such as 26 days of holiday, a car allowance, and a health cash plan, making it an attractive choice for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the energy infrastructure sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Design Lead
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like United Infrastructure Ltd, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Principal Design Lead at United Infrastructure Ltd.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Design Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at United Infrastructure Ltd
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
