Design Manager or Senior Design Manager | Cambridge | Permanent | Principal Contractor
“It coordinated fine in BIM…”
One of construction’s great modern horror stories. Usually said about 14 minutes before someone discovers a ductwork clash the size of a Ford Transit.
I’m working with a major contractor looking for a proper Design Manager - someone who can see problems coming before they become six people standing around a ceiling void blaming each other.
Sectors: Education | Healthcare | MOD | MOJ | Heritage | Higher Education | Commercial
They need someone commercially aware, technically sharp and good with people - because half the job is managing design… and the other half is diplomatically explaining to consultants why “we’ll issue that next week” stopped being acceptable three weeks ago.
The role covers both pre-con and live project delivery:
• Managing design programmes
• Chairing meetings/workshops
• Coordinating consultants
• Risk management
• Technical compliance
• BIM Level 2 / COBie environments
• Keeping information flowing properly across the project
They want someone from a main contractor background who can organise chaos without creating more of it.
Someone calm, credible and detail-focused.
Not somebody who just forwards emails marked “URGENT” and disappears for the afternoon.
Strong pipeline. Good leadership team. Proper regional business with major project capability.
And importantly - a contractor that still values people who actually understand buildability, coordination and delivery… not just producing meeting minutes with impressive formatting.
Discreet conversation if of interest.
Spencer Wade
(phone number removed)
(url removed)