Design Manager
Location: Hackney, London
Project Type: High-Rise Residential (HRB)
Contract Type: Permanent / Full-Time
Overview
We are currently seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the technical and design coordination for a complex High-Risk Building (HRB) residential scheme in Hackney. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience delivering multi-storey residential developments and a strong working knowledge of the Building Safety Act (BSA), particularly its gateway process, duty holder roles, and safety case requirements.
This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in shaping a major London regeneration project, working closely with internal technical teams, external consultants, and key stakeholders to ensure fully compliant and high-quality design delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
Design Coordination & Management
Lead the coordination, review, and approval of architectural, structural and MEP design packages for an HRB residential project.
Manage design delivery across all RIBA stages, ensuring information is fully aligned with programme and sequencing requirements.
Chair design team meetings, manage design actions, and maintain clear communication between consultants, subcontractors, and companies project teams.
Coordinate design information to support quality benchmarks, buildability, logistics, and sequencing of high-rise construction.
Building Safety Act & HRB Compliance
Ensure all design information meets the requirements of the Building Safety Act, including Gateways 2 and 3, duty holder obligations, and the “Golden Thread” of information.
Oversee the preparation and coordination of documents needed for the Safety Case, Fire & Emergency File, digital record management, and change control procedures.
Liaise with Principal Designer (CDM and BR), Building Control, Fire Engineers, and Safety Consultants to ensure regulatory compliance at every stage.
Monitor and manage design risks, ensuring mitigation strategies are documented and implemented as required for HRB standards.
Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance
Review and sign off all technical drawings, subcontractor designs, specifications, and calculations.
Ensure compliance with UK Building Regulations, Approved Documents, warranty provider requirements, planning conditions, and internal design procedures.
Support the development and maintenance of the Design Delivery Programme (DDP) in line with the overall project programme.
Manage technical queries and RFIs from site, ensuring timely resolution.
Stakeholder Engagement
Collaborate with internal teams (Construction, Commercial, Planning, and Quality) to ensure seamless project delivery.
Liaise with local authorities, planners, utilities providers, and statutory bodies throughout the design process.
Maintain strong working relationships with consultants, subcontractors, and client representatives, ensuring transparent and collaborative engagement.
Project Delivery Support
Provide design leadership during procurement, supporting subcontractor tender reviews, technical assessments, and contract scope preparation.
Coordinate the release of construction information, ensuring the site team is working to the most current design packages.
Support design responses for client meetings, progress reporting, and technical presentations.
Experience & Skills Required
Essential
Proven experience working as a Design Manager (or Senior Design Coordinator ready to step up) for a main contractor or developer delivering HRB residential projects.
Strong working knowledge of the Building Safety Act, including Gateways and the “Golden Thread”.
Experience of coordinating multidisciplinary design teams on medium to high-rise residential schemes.
Ability to interpret complex drawings and technical details across architecture, structures, MEP, and fire engineering.
Excellent understanding of construction methodology, façade systems, fire compliance, and building regulations.
Strong communication, problem-solving and organisational skills.
Desirable
Experience working on London based regeneration or mixed-use developments.
Knowledge of digital information management systems (e.g., ACC, Asite, Viewpoint).
Relevant professional membership (RIBA, CIAT, CIOB, or Similar)