Wates Group
Head of Design
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Head of Design
🎯 Location: National
🏢 Business Unit: WPS
About The Role
We're seeking a highly experienced and inspiring Head of Design to lead and elevate the Design Management function across our WPS business. This key role demands full accountability for ensuring all design activity—including Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs), retrofit, and planned maintenance programmes—meets the highest levels of technical excellence, safety, and regulatory compliance.
You’ll drive continuous improvement, champion innovation, and reinforce business resilience, while steering a team of Design Managers and Temporary Works specialists.
If you flourish in a fast-paced technical environment and adore shaping best practice across a region-wide portfolio, we can’t wait to hear from you! ✨🚀
Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate, and develop a team of Design Managers, setting clear standards, reinvigorating robust processes, and championing ongoing professional development.
- Maintain business-wide design governance, ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act, CDM 2015, and Golden Thread requirements.
- Approve key design deliverables, offering technical assurance, design risk management, and buildability checks.
- Support project delivery teams through gateway reviews, resolving technical challenges, and ensuring successful outcomes from tender-to-handover phases.
- Champion continuous improvement, adopt modern digital design practices, establish competency frameworks, and implement in-house technical training.
- Serve as the senior escalation point for all design-related issues, fostering collaboration with clients, consultants, and supply chain partners.
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Requirements
- Chartered Civil/Structural Engineer with 15+ years' experience in Tier 1 contractor environments.
- Proven track record in delivering Higher-Risk Buildings, remediation, retrofit, and planned maintenance projects.
- In-depth knowledge of building safety regulations, design risk management, and digital design tools (e.g. BIM, CAD, etc.).
- Demonstrated ability to lead with influence and instil high standards across diverse teams, backed by a collaborative leadership style.
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Note: Due to the nature of this role, you’ll need to undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check after a successful offer. Relevant criminal history checks will be assessed on an individual basis, aligning with our commitment to employment without discrimination. Additional pre-employment security vetting may also apply.
Benefits & Opportunity
You’ll get the chance to shape the future of design leadership at WPS, spearheading high-impact initiatives with an exceptional team and ensuring the safety, compliance, and innovation of our built environment.
How to Apply
If you’re ready to take the next step and drive transformative change in design leadership across our WPS business, send your CV and a brief summary of your experience. Apply now—let’s do this together! 📊✍️
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