Design Management Associate — Major Projects Lead

We are design managers within WSP’s Major Project Services team, specifically covering large and complex multi‑disciplinary projects in the property and buildings sector. Reporting to a Technical Director or Director within the WSP UK Property and Buildings business, there is an opportunity to develop your career path and shape the direction of this newly formed team in the medium to long term. Your role may address a team requirement to support a particular sector, with opportunities to represent your sector of interest or work within other sectors in the design management capacity to broaden experience and the team’s capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Act as Senior design manager on major projects across different industry sectors (cultural, healthcare, and mission critical, among others), coordinating WSP’s engineering, architecture, and specialist teams.
• Represent the Major Project Services team to develop the Design Management discipline within WSP, delivering future‑facing solutions for a range of projects.
• Collaborate with WSP’s engineers, architects and specialists on projects and in the delivery of new design management solutions.
• Oversee the design aspects of projects, ensuring design objectives are met and deliverables are produced to the highest standards.
• Provide leadership, direction, and coordination to the design team, guiding projects from inception.
• Lead the development of design strategies, ensuring alignment with project goals and client requirements.
• Develop and manage the design programme, ensuring coordination with all stakeholders.
• Track, evaluate, and report project progress against the programme, and represent the design team at high‑level progress review meetings.
• Coordinate the resolution of risks and issues at the project and design level across all stakeholders.
• Define, organise, and implement project set‑up and mobilisation.
• Coordinate with design consultants and other project stakeholders.
• Manage the development of project briefs, scopes of work, and design schedules.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary design workshops to explore design concepts and options.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, industry standards, and best practices to maintain quality and safety throughout the design process.
• Oversee the preparation of design and construction documentation, including drawings, specifications, and schedules.
• Assist in the completion and handover of the project to the client, ensuring all design deliverables are provided.
• Support bids and opportunities.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

• An Engineering, Architectural or Design Management degree.
• Chartership, professional accreditation or close to achieving either.
• Experience acting as a client‑facing design manager or technical lead coordinator in large or complex projects.
• Familiarity with all RIBA design stages, with experience in Stages 1 to 3, including planning submissions.
• A highly organised individual who is proactive in nature.
• Collaborative attitude and ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and character types.
• An interest in innovation and developing new design management solutions.
• Deep experience as a designer in a consultancy environment prior to entering design management.
• Experience in acting as the multi‑disciplinary design lead on large or complex projects.
• Experience in highly technically complex sectors (healthcare, mission critical, data centres).
• Experience in working in or running international design teams across multiple geographies.
• Ability to gain Security Clearance.

Apply today if you are passionate about design management and eager to contribute to and influence innovative projects within a supportive and rapidly growing team!