Bespoke Careers
Design Manager
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An exciting opportunity for an experienced Design Lead
An experienced Design Lead to join a growing residential development business, taking a senior role in shaping design quality and delivery across UK-wide projects.
Working closely with the Development Director and Development Managers, you’ll lead the design process from concept through to technical design, procurement, construction and handover. You’ll oversee a diverse portfolio of large-scale residential schemes, collaborating with architects, consultants, contractors and internal teams to ensure designs are high quality, commercially viable and deliverable.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced design professional to step into a senior, client-side leadership role, with genuine influence over projects and the wider design strategy of the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the design process across residential projects from concept through to delivery and handover.
- Work closely with Development Directors and Managers to establish clear design briefs and project requirements.
- Coordinate architects, consultants and wider design teams, ensuring projects meet agreed quality, programme and commercial objectives.
- Review design proposals, technical information, specifications and construction packages.
- Provide clear design direction and ensure design decisions are properly coordinated and deliverable.
- Develop and maintain design standards, guidelines, material palettes and best practice across the business.
- Support consultant selection, appointments and procurement processes.
- Work collaboratively with development, construction, investment, marketing and mobilisation teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve design quality, efficiency, sustainability and long-term asset value.
- Provide design leadership and support across multiple projects and stages simultaneously.
- Ensure design decisions are clearly communicated and appropriately documented throughout the project lifecycle.
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Skills and Experience
- Significant experience within architecture, design management, property development or a related built-environment discipline.
- Strong experience delivering medium to large-scale residential projects.
- Good understanding of the UK residential development sector and the design and construction process.
- Experience working within a Design & Build, developer-led or client-side environment would be advantageous.
- Strong understanding of RIBA stages, technical design, procurement and construction.
- Proven experience managing external architects, consultants and multidisciplinary design teams.
- Excellent design judgement, with the ability to balance quality, cost, programme, buildability and operational requirements.
- Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
- Confident working with senior stakeholders and external consultants.
- A collaborative, proactive and commercially aware approach.
- Able to provide clear design direction while remaining pragmatic and solutions-focused.
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