Design Standards Manager

Venesky-Brown’s client, a public sector organisation in Edinburgh, is currently looking to recruit a Design and Standards Manager until the 31st of March 2027 on a rate of £34.01 - £37.41/hour PAYE – working 35 hours per week. This role will be based in Edinburgh (hybrid).

Responsibilities:

• Inputting into development plans, option and feasibility studies, research and investigations to develop strategic and/or specific responses to business needs.
• Undertaking the management of, including any framework management, any consultants appointed to provide design or other professional services (CDM advice, building control services and suchlike); directing design commissions in support of projects where appropriate; and overseeing the direct appointment and management of consultants for specific appointments and tasks. This role includes monitoring progress of commissions, monitoring delivery and performance of suppliers, initiating corrective actions and improvements, and checking consistency and adequacy of deliverables; generally administering the delivery of any commission; and reviewing, analysing and disseminating outputs.
• Developing and maintaining the set of Design Standards including specialist systems and specifications. Using a continuous improvement process and gathering data from a number of sources and, working with other specialists, maintaining the standards up to date reflecting the organisation’s requirements and best practice; disseminating information as required regarding content and use of standards; and initiating the development of new standards as required.
• Tailoring design standards to meet specific project needs. Inputting into initial stages of projects at business case and feasibility stages; assisting appointed Project Sponsors and Project Managers throughout design stages, attending design meetings as required; advising on design needs and co-ordination, assessing design outputs and deliverables, assisting in the preparation of tender documentation, tender / proposal evaluation and providing continual assistance through construction and handover stages in regards to design issues.
• Improvement – co-ordinating a programme of post occupancy and post completion reviews from basic ‘lessons learned’ assessments to full independent post occupancy reviews. Proactively reviewing other sources of potential improvements including project risk and issues logs, project variations, on-site inspection reports, contractors’ reports, occupant and operational feedback, defect management and co-ordinating input regarding improvements from other staff.
• Carry out any other duties as required.