Senior Design Manager – Commercial Fit-Out (CAT A & CAT B)
Location: London (Zone 1–2 projects) • Salary: £90,000–£100,000 base + annual bonus + project-specific bonuses
Employer: Leading Main Contractor • Employment Type: Permanent
The Opportunity
A top-tier main contractor is seeking a proven Senior Design Manager to lead CAT A and CAT B office fit-out projects across London. You’ll take full ownership of the design process from pre-con to handover, driving quality, buildability, cost, and programme on fast-track, high-spec schemes.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and coordinate the end-to-end design management across RIBA Stages 2–6 for CAT A/B commercial fit-outs.
* Chair design team meetings; manage consultants, specialist subcontractors, and client stakeholders.
* De-risk design through buildability reviews, value engineering, and rigorous change control.
* Ensure compliance with UK Building Regulations, CDM 2015, fire strategy, acoustic and MEP coordination requirements.
* Oversee timely information release to meet procurement and construction programmes.
* Manage design QA: drawings/specs, RFIs, technical submittals, sample approvals, O&Ms/as-builts.
* Collaborate closely with project and commercial teams on sequencing, logistics, and cost control.
* Promote digital workflows (e.g., model/drawing reviews, CDEs) and best practice design governance.
About You
* Must have: demonstrable experience working for a main contractor in London on CAT A and CAT B commercial fit-outs.
* 7+ years’ design management (or similar) with a strong technical grasp of interiors/MEP coordination.
* Track record delivering fast-track projects to exacting quality and brand standards.
* Confident chairing multi-disciplinary meetings and influencing senior stakeholders.
* Fluent with drawings/models and common CDEs; comfortable interrogating AutoCAD/Revit outputs.
* Thorough knowledge of Building Regs, CDM, fire, acoustic, sustainability and compliance pathways.
* Collaborative, decisive, and calm under pressure with excellent written and verbal communication.
Package
* £90,000–£100,000 base salary (DOE)
* Annual bonus + project-specific bonuses
* Plus a comprehensive benefits package
Apply / Enquiries
Send your CV or a brief profile to chris@kennarecruitment.co.uk (confidentially) with the subject “Senior Design Manager – Fit-Out”. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted swiftly.
Kenna Recruitment is an equal opportunities recruiter. All applications are handled in strict confidence.