Overview
Senior Design Manager - Defence & Buildings at Jacobs. Lead delivery of complex, high-impact projects across the Defence and Buildings sectors within the Cities & Places team.
Your impact
At Jacobs, we don’t just design infrastructure — we shape environments that protect, empower, and inspire. You will guide multi-disciplinary design teams to deliver secure, compliant, innovative, and future-ready solutions for defence-related facilities, including secure command centres, logistics hubs, and advanced research/manufacturing facilities. You’ll bridge client vision and technical execution, influence how critical infrastructure is conceived, coordinated, and delivered, and drive a culture of excellence and accountability across the project lifecycle.
Your responsibilities span early client engagement to delivery assurance and contractor coordination, fostering collaboration, resolving competing priorities, and ensuring high-quality outcomes that meet demanding project goals.
What the Role Involves
* Multi-disciplinary Design Leadership: coordinate and integrate design teams across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and specialist disciplines to deliver secure facilities that meet defence standards.
* Client Engagement: work with government agencies, armed forces, and defence contractors to align design solutions with operational needs, security protocols, and long-term strategic goals.
* Technical Assurance: provide oversight to ensure compliance with defence regulations, safety standards, and environmental requirements.
* Programme Delivery: manage timelines, budgets, and risk to deliver projects ranging from secure command centres and logistics hubs to advanced manufacturing and research facilities.
* Innovation and Resilience: integrate cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, and digital solutions into defence infrastructure.
* Leadership and Collaboration: lead design teams, resolve priorities, and foster a culture of collaboration and accountability.
What you'll need
* Chartered status (or actively working towards) with a recognised architectural or engineering professional body
* Proven design management experience across multi-disciplinary projects
* Direct experience in Defence sector projects, including DIO and USVF programmes
* Strong ability to lead teams and operate autonomously in complex environments
* Sound working knowledge of BIM for project delivery
* Proficient in tools such as Revizto, Navisworks, Revit, AutoCAD, MS Office, MS Project / P6, and information management platforms
* Experience in managing commercial, contractual, and scheduling aspects of project delivery
* Strong technical coordination and delivery assurance capabilities
* Note: due to Defence project compliance requirements (SV/SC), successful candidates must have single-British citizenship. Current valid clearance is an advantage.
Benefits & Diversity
At Jacobs, you’ll find more than just a job. Benefits include: global opportunities, safety and inclusion culture, flexible working arrangements, and programs supporting well-being, volunteering, and community impact. We offer pension, holidays, and insurance options. We are committed to inclusion and belonging and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds. We support disability-inclusive recruitment and flexible working where possible.
We value collaboration and the importance of in-person interactions for delivery. Our hybrid working policy enables a balance of office/project and remote work. If you require reasonable adjustments during recruitment, please contact Careers Support.
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