Your new company Hays Architecture & Design NI are excited to bring a newly created Design Manager position to the market, with a well-established, high-end fit-out organisation headquartered in Lisburn, delivering premium interior projects across the UK and Ireland. Acting as main contractor on large-scale, design-driven schemes, often exceeding £20m, this organisation is recognised for its technical capability, exceptional craftsmanship and ability to deliver complex, high-spec environments such as hospitality, leisure and private-member venues. Continued project wins and a strong forward pipeline have created this need for a newly established Design Manager function to strengthen their internal technical leadership, and they are ideally looking for applications from professionals who have fulfilled this role within a main contractor environment. Your new role This is a rare chance to shape and define a brand-new Design Manager role within the business. Our client is creating this function to bring greater cohesion, technical oversight and strategic design input across all live and upcoming projects. As the first dedicated Design Manager within the organisation, you will have genuine autonomy to influence process, elevate design coordination standards and embed best-practice principles across the full project lifecycle. The company is purposely seeking a design professional from a main contractor environment, ideally someone used to working on large, complex projects where buildability, technical detailing and programme-driven coordination are essential. In this stand-alone role, you will provide centralised design leadership, guiding the development and coordination of design information from pre-construction through to delivery. You will work closely with internal contract teams, client-side designers and specialist subcontractors to ensure technical accuracy, practical buildability and adherence to project scope. You will act as a key interface between creative design intent and real-world construction delivery, ensuring information flows smoothly, risks are identified early and design queries are resolved quickly and effectively. What you'll need to succeed You will bring solid experience from a main-contractor or Tier-1/Tier-2 D&B environment, with a proven ability to manage complex design information and lead coordination in a fast-paced, quality-driven setting. You will be confident operating autonomously, comfortable making informed decisions, and motivated by the challenge of building a design function from the ground up. A background in interior, fit-out or high-spec commercial projects is advantageous, along with strong communication skills and the ability to form effective relationships across all stakeholders. What you'll get in return This is a compelling opportunity for the right Design specialist to take ownership of a newly created position where your influence will directly shape how the organisation manages design across its portfolio. You will join a dynamic, growing contractor with a strong design appreciation, a healthy project pipeline, and a genuine commitment to elevating technical capability. It is an ideal move for a Design Manager seeking autonomy, progression and the chance to make a lasting impact on a business at an exciting stage of its development. What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be Skills: Design Manager Fit Out Lisburn New Position Benefits: £Attractive Package