Design Manager

Design Manager (Construction)
Staffordshire
Salary: 70k + Car Allowance + Bonus
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

My client are the market leaders in the design, supply and installation of industrial partitioning systems and modular site hoarding solutions.

Their products and systems are used by world-class businesses and brands across a diverse range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, warehousing, data centres, pharmaceuticals, airports, and defence. Operating across the UK, Europe and the USA, and have ambitious plans for continued growth and market development.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead their in-house Design team and play a key role in driving performance and delivering high-quality results that support the company's strategic objectives. The seven strong team undertakes site surveys and designs project specific solutions for each of our high profile projects - across the UK, Europe and USA.

Committed to building a successful, supportive, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected.

Principle Purpose of the Position:

The Design Manager is responsible for leading the Design function, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and commercially effective design solutions that support the successful execution of projects and the company's growth strategy.

The role provides technical leadership, develops and mentors the Design Team, drives design standardisation, automation and continuous improvement, and acts as the technical authority for the business. Through customer site visits, detailed project surveys, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, the Design Manager ensures design solutions are safe, practical, efficient, and aligned with customer requirements, industry standards, and business objectives.

This role requires some occasional travel to customer sites but would be based in Staffordshire

Primary Role / Main Function of the Job

* Lead and manage the Design Team, overseeing priorities, workload, performance, development, resource planning, and delivery of project outputs.

* Drive the continuous development of the Design function by improving processes, introducing new technologies, standardising solutions, and supporting the company's growth strategy.

* Act as the primary point of escalation, providing technical guidance and support to the Design Team.

* Drive Design Automation and Standardisation

* Support the Chief Operating Officer in achieving departmental KPIs, objectives, and continuous improvement initiatives.

* Review and approve design pack submissions prior to issue to clients.

* Develop practical solutions for non-standard applications, collaborating with internal departments and external partners to ensure technically robust designs.

* Coordinate with relevant internal teams and external specialists to ensure structural calculations, wind load assessments, and other compliance documentation are completed where necessary.

* Provide technical support and problem solving to internal teams, resolving design queries and updating documentation where required.

* Own and maintain design standards, templates and best practices.

* Ensure document control and revision management processes are followed.

* Balance technical compliance with commercial viability, minimising design-related project costs.

* In order to remain familiar with site challenges it is expected that there will be some occasional conducting of site surveys, meeting with customer representatives and production of site specific designs in order to stay familiar with the challenges of the team.

* Manage the design handover to the Projects Team, ensuring all documentation, design revisions, and variations are accurately communicated by the team.

* Lead root cause analysis of design issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.

* Ensure delivery of design team activities in line with agreed project programmes and deadlines to support successful project delivery.

* Build confidence with key clients.

* Support Research & Development activities by providing practical design expertise and technical input to develop and improve products and installation solutions.

* Mentoring and Coaching of the team, as well as completion of 121’s and instilling a mentality of continuous improvement.

Experience:

* AutoCAD essential

* BIM awareness as a minimum.

* Proven experience in surveying, designing, and delivering industrial installation projects.

* Demonstrable experience leading, mentoring, and developing a design team, including managing workload, performance, and technical standards.

* Strong technical knowledge with the ability to review, approve, and value engineer design solutions.

* Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, customers, and installation teams to ensure successful project delivery.

* An ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while maintaining quality, accuracy, and programme deadlines.

Qualifications:

* Full UK driving licence.

* Relevant industry certifications beneficial, including CSCS and IPAF.

* Good understanding of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM).

* SMSTS or SSSTS qualification desirable, but not essential
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed