Senior Design Manager - Data Centre Projects (UK)
Location: London / Manchester - Needed to be in the office 3 days a week.
A leading global consultancy with a strong, future‑focused presence in the data‑centre sector is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to support the delivery of major UK data‑centre programmes. This organisation provides end‑to‑end support across the full data‑centre lifecycle - including strategic advisory, feasibility, engineering, environmental approvals, cybersecurity and construction-phase integration - underpinned by multidisciplinary technical depth.
With the UK experiencing rapid growth in data‑centre development driven by AI adoption, cloud expansion and increasing power‑supply pressures, this is a pivotal opportunity to shape large‑scale, next‑generation digital infrastructure.
The Role
The Senior Design Manager will lead multi‑disciplinary teams to deliver technically robust and coordinated designs for hyperscale, enterprise and colocation data‑centre projects. This role covers full design-cycle oversight, including scoping, technical assurance, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement and interface management from concept through to construction support.
Responsibilities include:
Managing all design stages across architecture, MEP, environmental, digital systems and technical advisory streams.
Ensuring integrated solutions across energy management, water systems, sustainability and operational resilience - key challenges in modern data‑centre development.
Working closely with clients to shape briefs, project origination, commercial definition and feasibility alignment.
Steering compliance with both UK and international standards, ensuring design quality and project readiness.
Supporting modular and prefabricated design approaches to accelerate programme delivery and improve energy efficiency.
Coordinating planning submissions, permitting activities and interface with environmental and grid stakeholders.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will bring:
Extensive design-management experience in mission‑critical or technically complex infrastructure, preferably including data centres.
Strong multidisciplinary coordination skills, with the ability to integrate engineering, architecture, digital and environmental inputs.
Awareness of emerging UK market drivers such as power‑grid constraints, increased AI‑related energy use, net‑zero policies and the surge in new facility construction.
A proactive, solutions‑focused approach to navigating regulatory, environmental and technical challenges.
Excellent communication and client‑management skills.
Degree-level qualifications in engineering, architecture or a related discipline; chartership desirable.
What's on Offer
This is a rare opportunity to join a consultancy with a major strategic focus on future‑ready data‑centre development. Their teams are known for innovation, integrated delivery, regulatory leadership and an emphasis on sustainable, resilient and efficient infrastructure.
You'll play a central role in shaping critical digital infrastructure at a time of unprecedented sector growth and transformation in the UK