Head of Design
Location: Midlands
Business Unit: WPS
About The Role
We’re looking for a highly experienced and inspiring Head of Design to lead and elevate the Design Management function across our WPS business. This pivotal role carries full accountability for ensuring all design activity — including Higher‑Risk Buildings (HRBs), retrofit, and planned maintenance programmes — meets the highest levels of technical excellence, safety, and regulatory compliance. You’ll drive continuous improvement, champion innovation, and strengthen business resilience while leading a talented team of Design Managers and Temporary Works specialists. If you thrive in a fast‑paced technical environment and enjoy shaping best practice across a region‑wide portfolio, we want to hear from you! 🚀
What You’ll Do
* Lead, motivate, and develop a team of Design Managers, ensuring clear standards, robust processes, and ongoing professional development.
* Oversee business‑wide design governance, including compliance with the Building Safety Act, CDM 2015 and Golden Thread requirements.
* Approve key design deliverables, providing technical assurance, design risk management and buildability checks.
* Support project delivery teams through gateway reviews, resolving technical issues, and ensuring successful tender‑to‑handover outcomes.
* Drive continuous improvement, digital design practices, competency frameworks, and in‑house technical training.
* Act as the senior escalation point for all design‑related matters, working collaboratively with clients, consultants and supply chain partners.
What You’ll Bring
* Chartered Civil/Structural Engineer (15+ years’ Tier 1 contractor experience).
* Strong track record delivering HRBs, remediation, retrofit, and planned maintenance projects.
* Deep knowledge of building safety regulations, design risk management, and digital design tools.
* A collaborative, influential leadership style with the ability to drive standards and performance.
Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of Design Management across a major region within WPS. You’ll lead high‑impact programmes, work with exceptional people, and play a critical role in ensuring safe, compliant, and innovative delivery across our built environment.
How to Apply
If you’re ready to take the next step and play a key role in shaping design leadership across the WPS business, apply now by submitting your CV and a brief summary of your experience.
We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer. We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.
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