Design Manager – Leading Main Contractor (Kent)
Location: Dartford, Kent
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: £65,000 - £70,000 + package (car allowance, healthcare, pension, fuel card)
Project experience required: Cut & carve refurbishment and new build
Posted: 21st November 2025
Contact: Mark Dixon – Skilled Careers, Maidstone Branch
About the Company
Join one of Kent’s leading main contractors, renowned for delivering high-quality new build and refurbishment projects across the region.
With project values typically ranging from £2.5m to £16m, the company has an exceptional reputation for technical excellence, collaboration, and continued growth.
The Opportunity
Due to a strong pipeline of secured work, we’re seeking a Design Manager to join an established and growing design team to start their tenure on £14m Design & Build education project which features cut & carve refurbishment, new build and fit out.
You’ll also be key in supporting tendering for new contracts across the South East region are a mix of Design & Build and Traditional contracts, many with significant contractor’s design portions.
This is a fantastic opportunity to make an impact in a business that truly values innovation, teamwork, and professional development.
Your Role
Analyse enquiry and tender documents to support bid preparation.
Lead and coordinate the design process throughout RIBA stages 2-7.
Produce and manage design programmes, scopes, responsibility matrices, and schedules.
Procure, coordinate and manage external design consultants.
Drive innovation and value engineering to optimise project performance and client satisfaction.
Monitor design progress to ensure timely information delivery.
Attend tender reviews, pre-start meetings, and ongoing project performance reviews.
About You
Proven track record delivering cut & carve refurbishment schemes for a main or principal contractor with a sound understanding of MEP packages.
Strong ability to plan, organise, and manage workloads effectively.
Solid understanding of site procedures, Building Regulations, and planning processes.
Commercially aware with excellent communication and coordination skills.
Experience of client procurement routes.
Background in site operations prior to design management would be advantageous but not essential.
What’s in It for You
Competitive salary (commensurate with experience).
Car allowance, private healthcare, and company pension.
A supportive, collaborative working environment within a forward-thinking, agile contractor.
Genuine opportunities for career progression as part of a growing regional team.
Interested
If you’re looking to take the next step in your career as a Design Manager, and want to work with a respected contractor delivering exciting Kent-based projects — we’d love to hear from you.
Click “Apply Now” or contact Mark Dixon at Skilled Careers (Maidstone branch) for a confidential discussion