Senior Design Manager

• Lead and coordinate the end-to-end design management across RIBA Stages 2–6 for CAT A/B commercial fit-outs.
• Chair design team meetings; manage consultants, specialist subcontractors, and client stakeholders.
• Promote digital workflows (e.g., model/drawing reviews, CDEs) and best practice design governance.
• Ensure compliance with UK Building Regulations, CDM 2015, fire strategy, acoustic and MEP coordination requirements.
• Oversee timely information release to meet procurement and construction programmes.
• Manage design QA: drawings/specs, RFIs, technical submittals, sample approvals, O&Ms/as-builts.
• De-risk design through buildability reviews, value engineering, and rigorous change control.
• Collaborate closely with project and commercial teams on sequencing, logistics, and cost control.

A top-tier main contractor is seeking a proven Senior Design Manager to lead CAT A and CAT B office fit-out projects across London. You’ll take full ownership of the design process from pre-con to handover, driving quality, buildability, cost, and programme on fast-track, high-spec schemes.

• Collaborative, decisive, and calm under pressure with excellent written and verbal communication.
• Track record delivering fast-track projects to exacting quality and brand standards.
• Must have: demonstrable experience working for a main contractor in London on CAT A and CAT B commercial fit-outs.
• Fluent with drawings/models and common CDEs; comfortable interrogating AutoCAD/Revit outputs.
• Thorough knowledge of Building Regs, CDM, fire, acoustic, sustainability and compliance pathways.
• Confident chairing multi-disciplinary meetings and influencing senior stakeholders.
• 7+ years’ design management (or similar) with a strong technical grasp of interiors/MEP coordination.

Location: London (Zone 1–2 projects) • Salary: £90,000–£100,000 base + annual bonus + project-specific bonuses

• Plus a comprehensive benefits package
• Annual bonus + project-specific bonuses
• £90,000–£100,000 base salary (DOE)