Freelance Design Manager
Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire (with site visits as required) Contract: Freelance | 2-3 days per week Sector: Commercial Construction
The Opportunity
My client is a Tier 2 main contractor with a strong pipeline of commercial build projects valued up to £25 million. We're looking for an experienced Design Manager to join them on a freelance basis, supporting our delivery teams through the design and preconstruction phases.
This is a flexible role suited to someone who thrives on variety, values autonomy, and wants to balance project work with other commitments.
What You'll Do
* Lead and coordinate the design process from tender through to construction, ensuring buildability, compliance, and programme alignment
* Manage design consultants and subcontractor design packages
* Chair design team meetings and track deliverables against project milestones
* Identify and mitigate design risks early
* Liaise with clients, architects, and engineers to resolve technical queries
* Support value engineering and ensure designs meet budget and specification
What We're Looking For
* Proven experience as a Design Manager within a main contractor environment
* Strong track record on commercial projects (offices, retail, industrial, mixed-use, apartments, residential)
* Confident managing multiple design packages and consultant relationships
* Solid understanding of UK Building Regulations, CDM, and relevant standards
* Excellent communication skills-equally comfortable in a design workshop or a site coordination meeting
* Self-sufficient and able to hit the ground running with minimal supervision
What We Offer
* Competitive day rate (negotiable based on experience)
* Flexible working pattern-typically 2–3 days per week, with scope to adjust around project demands
* A collaborative team and a varied project portfolio
* Opportunity for ongoing work as our pipeline grows
Interested?
Send your CV and day rate expectations to Heather Duncan in the Birmingham office. We'd love to hear from you