Principal Design Lead - Manchester
The Principal Design Lead (PDL) provides senior technical leadership across multiple projects, bridging strategic technical oversight and project-level design management. Supporting the Head of Technical, the role is responsible for driving design excellence, managing technical risk, leading bid-stage input, and ensuring consistency, compliance, and performance across all schemes.
The PDL will mentor and support Design Managers and Senior Design Managers, while retaining hands-on responsibility for key or complex projects as required.
Key Responsibilities
Provide technical leadership across multiple residential and mixed-use developments, ensuring coordinated, compliant, and buildable design solutions.
Lead technical input into bids, including design appraisals, consultant strategies, programme development, risk management, and value engineering.
Act as the escalation point for complex design and technical issues, driving timely resolution and mitigating project risk.
Oversee design programmes, ensuring alignment with project objectives, budgets, and delivery strategies.
Support the Head of Technical in implementing consistent design management processes, standards, and procedures.
Mentor and develop Design Managers and Senior Design Managers through coaching, guidance, and technical support.
Review and challenge design information to ensure compliance with legislation, planning approvals, client requirements, and company standards.
Coordinate with Commercial, Operations, and Bid teams to deliver practical, cost-effective design solutions.
Oversee consultant and subcontractor design performance, including scoping, procurement, competency reviews, and change management.
Support the timely delivery of statutory approvals, building control submissions, and planning requirements.
Promote best practice in fire safety, structural design, MEP integration, façade design, and building safety compliance.
Chair and facilitate design workshops, coordination meetings, and technical reviews on complex or high-risk schemes.
Conduct site visits to support delivery teams and resolve technical challenges.
Ensure compliance with company policies and health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
Essential Criteria
Extens...
Principle Design Lead in Manchester employer: United Infrastructure
United Infrastructure is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture where Smart Meter Technicians can thrive in their roles across the Northumbrian Water region. With a focus on employee growth, the company provides comprehensive benefits such as a bike to work scheme, a company pension, and private medical insurance, ensuring that team members feel valued and secure in their positions.
