Design Lead - to be a manager in Waterlooville

Winsearch is working with a prestigious specialist client in the façade and building envelope sector. They've been trading for more than 20 years in this area with extensive experience in major works design, facade remediation, and restoration to existing buildings. This client is now looking for a Design Manager to work out of their fantastic Portsmouth office. In this role you'll be delivering high-quality facade solutions across new builds, remediation, and complex refurbishment schemes across London, the South East, and the UK as a whole.

This is a key role for someone who wants to take full ownership of design delivery on technically challenging projects. It's a leadership position where you'll take charge of facade and glazing design functions from tender all the way through to construction.

Your day-to-day will be:

• Managing façade & glazing design packages from pre-con through to site delivery
• Reviewing employer's requirements and technical specs — identifying risks and opportunities early
• Appointing and managing designers, consultants, and structural engineers
• Coordinating closely with commercial, estimating, and procurement teams
• Ensuring all drawings, specs, and design outputs are delivered on time and to a high standard
• Acting as the main technical point of contact for clients, architects, contractors, and regulators
• Reviewing and signing off subcontractor and supplier designs
• Managing the design risk register and leading design reviews
• Supporting testing strategies (air, water, fire performance etc.)
• Embedding H&S, CDM regs, sustainability, and fire safety into every stage of design
• Working closely with site and production teams to ensure designs are practical and buildable

About you:

• Around 7+ years' experience in façade / glazing design or design management
• Strong background working with: Curtain walling, Rainscreen cladding, Windows & doors, Unitised façades or bespoke glazing systems
• Good working knowledge of CWCT standards and UK Building Regulations
• Experience using: AutoCAD, Revit, Microsoft Project, Standard Microsoft Office tools, Façade software (e.g. SchüCal, LogiKal)

Nice to have:

• Relevant degree (Architecture, Engineering, Façade Engineering, etc.)
• Exposure to sustainability standards like BREEAM or LEED

Who'll do well:

• A confident design leader who can manage multiple projects at once
• Strong communicator — comfortable dealing with clients and senior stakeholders
• Detail-focused, but still commercially aware
• Solutions-driven with a proactive mindset
• Big on safety, quality, and getting things right first time

You'll be joining a business with a strong pipeline of work, a solid industry reputation, and the opportunity to genuinely influence how facade design is delivered across a range of high-profile projects. If you're ready to step into a role where you can own the design process and make an impact, this is well worth the time it'll take you to apply.

Our clients and their customers come from diverse backgrounds and so do we. We hire our people from various walks of life, each of whom make our company stronger with their talent, uniqueness, and expertise. This is what makes our company special; if you want to help us grow and take this ethos to our clients, then we cannot wait to collaborate with you!