Design Manager

Gilbert-Ash Overview:

Gilbert-Ash is a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2026, Investors in People, and Diversity Mark recognised employer, because our people matter.

We think creatively to help our clients deliver stunning and often challenging projects. It’s about considering the impact we have on local communities and the wider world – finding unique ways to maximise positive opportunities and smarter ways to offset the negative.

It’s about grabbing a hard hat, rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck in to see every job completed on time, on budget and with the minimum possible stress all round. It’s about working in a genuinely collaborative way with clients, an approach that sees them returning to us year after year with new projects, new challenges and new opportunities to do something bigger than just building. That’s because they understand what we’re about – that what we do together has the potential to make a difference.

To our clients, their customers and the people who live and work and enjoy the places we create together. To the environment, both local and beyond. To the safety and wellbeing of our people who work smarter and harder because they know how much they mean to us and understand our clients’ trust is in their hands. That’s the way we like it. That’s what we’re about.

Job Description:

Job Title: Design Manager

Reports to: Design Project Director

Location: Will be dependent on the successful candidate so will be either Head Office, 60 Boucher Place, Belfast, BT12 6HT or ROI office at 51a Dawson Street, Dublin, D2 AN25, with travel to the Company’s construction sites throughout the UK and ROI.

Summary of the Role:

Reporting to the Design Project Director, the post holder will be responsible for managing the overall design of the projects allocated to them, this will include appointing, managing and monitoring progress of consultants, designers and specialist sub-contractors. Ensuring that the design is progressed in such a manner as to achieve all of the contracted deliverables, whilst maximising commercial opportunities and ensuring that all design information is released in lines with the requirements of the project construction programme and procurement schedule.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

• Developing a comprehensive understanding of the contents of the Employers Requirements and Performance specifications, looking for opportunities to develop the detailed design, maximising margins and reduce latent risks to Gilbert Ash.
• Negotiating and executing the appointments, scope and fees of consultants and designers.
• Preparing design programmes and Information Release Schedules, getting designers and specialist sub-contractor buy-in to these timescales and then managing the process and monitoring progress during the course of the project.
• Reviewing key materials and interfaces, ensuring they are fit for purpose and provide long-term durable solutions without exposing Gilbert-ash to unnecessary latent maintenance or H&S risks.
• Reviewing all design information, ensuring it is clear, complete, meets statutory requirements, complies with the ERs and is fully coordinated with all other disciplines.
• Organising, scheduling and chairing technical meetings with members of the Design team and supply chain, during the pre and construction phases of the project. Generating technical queries and monitor response performance.
• Managing the close out of statutory requirements on projects, in relation to Planning and the BCAR process.
• Attending client meetings, reporting on design release/ design development progress, ensuring support and guidance is offered to the client in relation to requests and their obligations in the building design.
• Participating in tender submissions and producing answers to questions to support the construction logic in line with coordination, design management, BREEAM, etc. Attending and presenting at client interviews.
• Reviewing tender drawings and assisting the Estimating team in understanding any gaps or risks within the tender design.
• Managing the RFI process, raising the RFI, following up with the relevant party, reporting on progress and closing out.
• Managing the DAR (Document Approval Request) process, raising the RFI, following up with the relevant party, reporting on progress and closing out.
• Managing the sample approval process, in a timeous manner, following up with the relevant party, reporting on progress and closing out. This applies both to Planning requirements and sample requirements within the ERs.
• Setting up and managing Drawing Control protocol for issuing drawings and onward distribution to sub-contractors and the wider project team.
• Overseeing the BREEAM tracker, ensuring all designers fulfil the requirements and provide the evidence for credits allocated to them. Assisting the Contracts Manager and QS in providing the evident required for contractor allocated credits.
• Providing technical / commercial support to the project surveyor, relating to design development, VE, potential variations and settlement of final accounts.
• Contributing to the compilation of the project handover documentation, O&M manuals, H&S files, Building User Guides and as-built information.
• Developing construction staff knowledge through participation at technical meetings and site inspections, particularly, relating to awareness of scope, installation logistics, programme and interface issues.
• Fulfilling health, safety and welfare responsibilities as detailed in the Company’s Policy and in compliance with ISO 45001. Chairing CMD design meetings to ensure that we are fulfilling our responsibility to design out H&S risks, and if there are residual risks that can’t be designed out, that the appropriate management strategies and mitigation measures are implemented.
• Maintaining quality and environmental control procedures in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
• Ensuring design process recognises current legislation, standards and codes of practice where appropriate.
• Creating and maintaining good relations with Consultants, Clients and Contractors ensuring effective communication channels are in place.
• Ensuring the Company’s Site Waste Minimisation and Management Policy is applied during the design and development stage of the project.
• Maintaining comprehensive and accurate records of own activity relating to projects on Gateway, enabling traceability.
• Carrying out people management practices in line with the Company’s polices as well as any HR strategies / initiatives.
• Fulfilling the role of mentor as and when required.
• Encouraging, promoting and implementing sustainable design practices including innovative solutions.
• Continually develop knowledge of innovative construction techniques and products, enhancing the business and fulfilling company CPD requirements.
• Undertaking all relevant training and development activities as required.
• Attending industry dinners, functions, seminars etc., as required on behalf of the Company.
• Contributing to the Company’s Corporate Responsibility initiatives.
• The above list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to take on other duties and responsibilities for the effective and efficient performance of this role.