Principal Design Lead in Manchester

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.

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.

• 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

• Thrive within United Social Infrastructures values and culture of relentlessly striving to excellence through doing the right thing, raising the bar, positive attitude and energetic pace.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Integrity and ability to make things happen – starter/finisher.
• Tact and the ability to deal with difficult situations.
• Proactive and ability to challenge the norm and look for alternative solutions.
• 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 and Building Regulations.
• 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 and Building Regulations.
• Strong technical knowledge and skillset to assess, challenge and monitor design work compliance.
• Experience in designer scoping.

Criteria - Desirable

• Experience supporting or deputising for Head of Technical / Technical Director roles.
• Proven involvement in complex or high-risk schemes (e.g. HRBs).
• Experience in developing and improving technical processes or procedures.
• Strong understanding of procurement strategies and contractual design obligations.
• Knowledge of PAS 9980, EWS1, FRAEW and fire safety compliance frameworks.
• Experience with BIM and digital design management systems.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIOB, CIAT, RICS).
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Architecture, Engineering, or a construction-related discipline.
• Passionate about construction and customer satisfaction, with a focus on high standards and excellence.
• Proven track record of design requirements for procurement and construction purposes.
• In depth knowledge of contractual requirements, section agreements and utility application process.
• Tenacious and driven.
• Strong practical knowledge of construction work types, methods and design solutions.
• Experience of producing and managing design programmes.
• Temporary works knowledge and experience.

Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.