Design Manager | Residential & Mixed-use | Kensington | Nov 2025
An opportunity for a Design Manager to join a design & build main contractor known for delivering prime residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects across London.
Based in Kensington, you'll take ownership of design coordination across luxury refurbishments and conversion schemes ensuring design intent, quality, and technical delivery are maintained from pre-construction through to handover.
This role would suit someone with strong technical experience in prime residential or boutique projects, confident managing design development and subcontractor packages in a fast-paced, design-led environment.
The Role
• Lead and coordinate design delivery on upper specification residential and refurbishment projects in Central London
• Liaise closely with architects, consultants, and specialist subcontractors to resolve technical design queries
• Review and manage joinery, stone, façade, and MEP design packages
• Maintain design programmes, approvals, and document control through all project stages
• Support pre-construction and tender teams with design input and value engineering
• Ensure buildability, quality, and client design intent are consistently achieved
What they're looking for
• 5+ years' experience as a Design Manager (or Senior Design Coordinator) within a main contractor environment
• Proven experience delivering high-end residential, mixed-use, or commercial refurbishment schemes
• Strong technical understanding with the ability to manage subcontractor design packages independently
• Excellent communication and coordination skills confident dealing with architects, clients, and site teams
• A proactive mindset and passion for quality, detail, and buildability
The Company
They are a growing London-based Design & Build contractor delivering residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects valued between £5m£30m.
Their portfolio spans luxury refurbishments, complex conversions, and new-build residential projects across prime London postcodes, typically valued between £10m£25m.
With a turnover of around £50m and a strong pipeline of D&B work, they offer a supportive environment where design, delivery, and collaboration go hand in hand
Also known as: Senior Design Coordinator, Project Design Manager, Technical Design Manager
Interested?
Michael Ogunyankin (phone number removed)
michael @ borneltd. com
If you're a Design Manager with a passion for high-quality, design-led projects and want to work with a growing London contractor delivering prime residential schemes, get in touch for a chat