Design Manager - Step Into a More Strategic Delivery Role
London | Hybrid working
Permanent | Full-time
There are some people in architecture and design who love the concept stage.
And there are others who get real satisfaction from what happens when things get more complex.
When the project starts to move.
When consultants need aligning.
When risks need surfacing early.
When the programme starts to tighten.
When decisions have commercial implications.
When someone needs to bring structure, clarity and momentum to the whole thing.
If that sounds like you, please keep reading.
We’re working with a globally recognised, design-led firm looking to appoint Design Managers into its growing London team.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who enjoys sitting at the intersection of design, delivery, coordination and project control… someone who is just as comfortable bringing people together as they are tracking progress, managing information and keeping a scheme moving in the right direction.
You might already be in a Design Manager or Project Manager position.
Or you may be coming from architecture, coordination or project lead/delivery and feel ready to step into a more formally structured Design Management role.
Either way, this role would suit someone who enjoys being close to the detail, understands how projects evolve, and takes pride in helping teams deliver well.
What the role will involve…
You will work closely with senior project and design leadership, supporting the delivery of complex live projects within a collaborative design environment.
The role will involve a blend of…
* coordinating multi-disciplinary design teams and helping maintain alignment across moving parts
* supporting project reporting, progress tracking and programme management
* keeping a close eye on scope, deliverables, dependencies and design changes
* helping maintain clear, auditable project records and structured information flows
* contributing to the structure behind how projects are planned, tracked and delivered
* liaising with consultants, clients and internal teams to keep communication clear and issues moving toward resolution
* supporting the wider team with planning, documentation, resource coordination and performance visibility
This is not a passive coordination role.
It will suit someone who likes being useful, being relied upon, and being the person who helps a project feel more organised, more controlled and more deliverable.
The kind of person who typically thrives in this environment…
(based on real-world examples of people we’ve placed into these roles with this client)
You will probably recognise yourself in a lot of the below:
* You enjoy the mechanics of delivery as much as the design itself
* You’re naturally structured, organised and good at keeping multiple threads moving
* You’ve worked in a design, construction, engineering or project-led environment and understand the realities of live project teams
* You’re confident coordinating consultants, stakeholders and internal teams
* You’ve had exposure to programmes, reporting, risk, design changes, tender information or the wider delivery side of projects
* You’re commercially aware, even if you’re still developing that side of your skill set
* You communicate clearly, ask the right questions, and don’t let things drift
* You’re someone who spots gaps, joins dots and helps others stay aligned
* You’re comfortable keeping things moving while maintaining clarity and control
Backgrounds that could translate well…
We would be especially keen to hear from people who have come from backgrounds such as:
* architecture or technical delivery
* project coordination or project management
* design management within a consultant, contractor or design-led environment
* project-focused roles where you’ve had real exposure to consultant coordination, programmes, reporting, procurement or delivery planning
You do not need to come from a perfectly linear Design Manager background to be of interest here.
What matters more is whether you’ve already been operating in a way that shows strong coordination instinct, delivery awareness, commercial curiosity and project discipline.
Why this opportunity stands out…
This is a chance to join a business with a genuinely strong (global) reputation for design quality, collaboration and long-term career development.
You will be surrounded by experienced people, exposed to exciting, multi-layered projects, and given the chance to grow your capability in a more formal Design Management environment… particularly if you’re looking to deepen your experience around how projects are structured, tracked and delivered.
It’s the sort of opportunity that we know (for sure) can really sharpen and broaden someone’s career.
In return for your services…
You can expect:
* a strong platform for professional development
* support from an experienced, collaborative team
* exposure to world-class complex projects
* hybrid working with flexible working
* a competitive salary and benefits package
* a business with a collaborative culture and genuine long-term progression potential
If this feels aligned with where you want to take your career next, we would encourage you to apply with your CV and responses to the screening questions.
We’re particularly keen to hear from individuals who have already had some exposure to the commercial side of projects, whether that’s fee awareness, programme implications or the impact of design decisions on cost and delivery.
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews arranged as soon as strong profiles are identified.