Design Manager / Senior Design Manager / Associate Director - Design Manager
Hotels & Hospitality | New Build & Regeneration
Location: London office, 5 days per week, no travel required
Salary: £45,000 to £78,000, dependent on level
Positions: 6 in total, 2 per level Sector: Construction Consultancy | Hospitality & Hotels
About the Business
Our client is a leading construction consultancy with an exemplary track record delivering complex new build and regeneration projects to the highest standards. They are known across the industry for landmark hospitality and hotel developments, partnering with international operators, developers, and investors on some of the most ambitious schemes in Europe.
As the hotels and hospitality portfolio grows, they are strengthening their Design Management function with six new hires across three levels of seniority.
The Opportunity
We're looking for design managers with an architecture background who have moved into design management, and who bring proven experience on large-scale hotel projects with a cost of build in excess of £200 million. International project experience is a strong plus, as the team supports projects across mainland Europe and the UK, managed remotely from London.
Roles sit at three levels: Design Manager, Senior Design Manager, and Associate Director - Design Manager, two positions at each.
Key Responsibilities
All roles involve:
- Managing the design process from concept through to construction and handover on large-scale hotel projects
- Acting as the interface between architects, engineers, specialist consultants, contractors, and client/operator teams
- Ensuring design meets operator standards, statutory requirements, programme, and cost targets
- Coordinating design information across disciplines to eliminate clashes, gaps, and inefficiencies
- Managing design risk registers, change control, and information release schedules
- Supporting procurement, including reviewing tender design packages and contractor proposals
- Coordinating UK and European projects remotely, via virtual meetings, digital design platforms, and reporting
Design Manager
- Supports design management on live projects under a Senior Design Manager or Associate Director
- Manages day-to-day design coordination, RFIs, and information exchange
- Reviews drawings and specifications for technical compliance and coordination
- Attends design team meetings and produces minutes and actions
Senior Design Manager
- Owns design management on a project or workstream
- Manages relationships with lead consultants, contractors, and client stakeholders
- Leads design risk and value engineering exercises
- Mentors Design Managers and reviews their output
- Contributes to bid and fee proposal development
Associate Director - Design Manager
- Holds overall accountability for design management across a project or portfolio
- Acts as senior client-facing representative of the consultancy
- Leads design strategy, governance, and reporting at project and programme level
- Supports business development, including client relationships and new pursuits
- Manages and develops Design Managers and Senior Design Managers
- Contributes to strategic direction of the hotels and hospitality sector team
Requirements
Essential:
- Degree-qualified in Architecture (RIBA Part 2 or equivalent; Part 3/ARB advantageous)
- Experience as a Design Manager within a consultancy, contractor, or client-side environment
- Proven track record on large-scale hotel projects with a cost of build of £200 million or above
- Strong understanding of the RIBA Plan of Work or equivalent design stage frameworks
- Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary design teams: architecture, structures, MEP, facades, interiors, FF&E
- Confident communicator, comfortable at senior client and operator level
- Comfortable managing design delivery remotely, without regular site travel
Desirable:
- International project experience, ideally in mainland Europe
- Experience working with international hotel operators/brands and their design standards
- Experience on regeneration and complex retrofit projects alongside new build
- Working knowledge of BIM coordination processes, e.g. ISO 19650
- A second European language
Salary Banding (indicative)
Design Manager - £45,000 to £55,000
Senior Design Manager - £55,000 to £68,000
Associate Director - Design Manager - £68,000 to £78,000
Final salary depends on experience and will be discussed at interview. Package includes discretionary bonus, pension, and standard benefits.
Working Pattern
Full-time, 5 days per week, at the consultancy's London office. All UK and European project delivery is managed remotely from London. No travel required.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV with a short covering note outlining your large-scale hotel project experience (project names, roles, cost of build), the level you're applying for, and any international project experience.
Contact: Grant Smith Mobile: 07393818657 Email:
