I'm working exclusively with a residential main contractor who are experiencing exceptional growth across their London High-rise portfolio. With a fantastic pipeline of high-rise RC frame developments secured with leading housing associations, they're now looking to bring 3 talented Design Managers into their ambitious and supportive design team.
This is a rare opportunity to join a business at the perfect time as they're scaling rapidly, investing heavily in their people, and offering genuine career progression that goes beyond the usual promises.
The Role
You'll be embedded across exciting residential schemes throughout London, taking ownership of design coordination.
This isn't a role where you'll be stuck behind a desk reviewing drawings all day. You'll be actively problem-solving, collaborating across disciplines, and playing a key role in project success from pre-construction onwards.
Your Responsibilities:
* Managing design coordination and delivery on high-rise residential projects
* Building strong relationships with architects, structural engineers, MEP consultants, and housing association clients
* Leading Gateway 2 submissions and ensuring full BSR compliance throughout project lifecycles
* Taking ownership of design programmes, critical path activities, and RFI management
* Driving buildability reviews and value engineering initiatives that deliver real savings
* Identifying and mitigating design risks before they impact the construction programme
* Coordinating design information flow between consultants and site teams
* Managing design change processes and maintaining robust audit trails
Who You Are
You're a Design Manager who:
* Has solid, proven experience in a main contracting environment
* Brings genuine residential experience, ideally across high-rise RC frame construction
* Has working knowledge of Gateway 2, BSR requirements and the Building Safety Act 2022
* Can manage multiple projects simultaneously
* Communicates brilliantly – whether with architects, site teams, or clients
* Is hungry to progress and develop your career to the next level
* Thrives in collaborative, fast-paced environments
Why Join Now?
Career Progression That's Real: This design team has grown over the past18 months, and they're not stopping. With 3 new positions being created, there's genuine opportunity to take on line management responsibilities within 12-18 months.
Work-Life Balance: Flexible working core hours plus the ability to WFH when it suits project demands. They trust their people to manage their own time and deliver results.
Projects You'll Be Proud Of: You'll work on landmark affordable housing schemes with some of London's most respected housing associations. These are high-quality developments that genuinely improve communities, not just another resi tower.
The Team Culture: This is a supportive, collaborative environment where people actually help each other succeed. The leadership team are invested in development, and there's none of the toxic blame culture you might have experienced elsewhere.
What's On Offer
* £60,000 - £75,000 (dependent on experience)
* Flexible working arrangements with core hours
* Clear pathway to Senior Design Manager within 18-24 months
* Genuine line management opportunities as the team continues to grow
* Car allowance
* 25 days holiday + bank holidays
* Comprehensive benefits package
* Professional development and training support
* Work on flagship London housing schemes
Ready for Your Next Move?
If you're a driven Design Manager who wants to work on quality projects with a team that genuinely values your contribution, let's talk.
Get in touch today for a confidential conversation.