Design Manager – super high-spec residential developments

Central London

£80,000 - £100,000 + Benefits

About the Employer:

Our client is a luxury residential developer with three major high-spec developments in central London; Grosvenor Square, Lincoln Square and Holland Park Gate (with further projects in the pipeline).

As part of a larger world-wide group, they have the support and backing of a multinational organization, while having the independence to operate as a standalone organization that maintains the feel of a privately owned high-spec central London developer.

Having placed several people with this organization (that I have known for multiple years), I can highly recommend them for not only the beautiful projects they complete, but also the harmony amongst the team, where everyone works together towards the common goals.

About the Opportunity:

We are looking for a Design Manager to join the team on a 12-month fixed term contract basis (with the view to extend past this). The role will bridge the design and construction project teams ensuring that the project meets all design, budget, and schedule requirements while aligning with our clients vision and regulatory standards.

This role requires a blend of technical expertise, project management skills, and effective communication to navigate the complexities of the projects successfully.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinate with Design Team: Lead and coordinate architects, engineers, and other design team members through the detailed design stages to ensure all team members are aligned with and achieve the project goals and timelines.
• Project Planning and Scheduling:  Develop and manage the design phase schedule to meet design milestones. Identify and proactively manage key design dependencies to ensure design programme is achieved.
• Programme Management: develop and manage the detailed design programme, ensuring it is fully coordinated with the wider procurement and construction programmes
• Quality Control: Review and approve design documents, drawings, and specifications to ensure they meet required standards and comply with relevant regulations and codes.
• Budget Management: Manage the design budget to control design costs and ensure the project remains financially viable.
• Risk Management: Identify potential design risks and proactively work to mitigate them, addressing issues that could impact project cost, schedule, or quality.
• Technical Guidance and Problem-Solving:  Provide technical expertise and support to the design team to resolve complex design issues.
• Buildability: ensure the design is buildable, seeking input from contractors and specialists as required through the design process
• Integrate with Construction Teams: Work closely with construction managers and contractors to address issues and facilitate a smooth transition from design to construction.
• Procurement: support the Commercial team with procuring the design, resolving any design/technical queries and reviewing the contractor’s proposals
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that all necessary permits and approvals are obtained and that the design complies with regs.
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain thorough documentation of the design process and provide regular updates and reports to project stakeholders. Manage the flow of design information through the detailed design process.
• Value Engineering: Evaluate the design to find cost-effective solutions without compromising quality or performance.
• Innovation: Incorporate innovative solutions to improve project outcomes

About the Requirements:

• Must have relevant central London experience in the last 10 years.
• Must have experience working on central London development projects with build costs of £100M+.
• The ideal candidate probably has 10 plus years of experience.
• Preferably, experience with delivering a basement box and/or frame for a central London development. If not, experience with delivering Shell & Core can also work.
• Experience with either a main contractor, developer, or a frame contractor or basement box contractor.
• Preferably residential, or hotel experience but can look at office/other uses as well.
• Experience of managing detailed design from Stage 3 through to construction.
• Our client wants proactive and driven individuals who can work under pressure and can achieve the best results.

About the Benefits / Offer:

Our client is open to people looking for a PAYE salary and benefits, or those looking to work on a self-employed basis. We have been given a rough target bracket of £80,000 to £100,000 per annum for the right individual, but all salary and benefits discussions will happen after the point of interview and will be based on the strength of your previous experience and how that matches to the details above.

How to Apply:

I am more than happy to discuss this opportunity with people over the phone or face to face in a fully confidential manner (you can get to know me while I get to know you). And I know this is an incestuous sector and I fully understand the importance of keeping things discrete.

Alternatively, it would be ideal to see a copy of your CV to understand your previous experience and employment. In line with GDPR, nothing will be done with your CV/details until we have discussed the role in detail anyway, but having gained an understanding of your formal past, this may help when we come to talk and discuss the option.

Either way, my contact details are listed below:

Email (remove all spaces): Andrew @ cityscape ltd . com

Tel: (phone number removed)

About Me and How I Work:

My name is Andrew Jackson and I am one of the founding directors of Cityscape Recruitment Ltd. I have over 19 years of experience in civil engineering & construction recruitment.

So, what does that mean for you? It means you won’t be trusting your career to a recruiter who doesn’t understand this market. I can help not only introduce you to the best companies, but can give you up-to-date information on each of them, helping you make an informed decision so you can take your career forward. I’ve been doing this for a fair while now and I’ve maintained a positive reputation doing what I do because I don’t tell people whatever it takes, I tell them the truth. My job is to get you the options you want, give you the information you need, and then to let you decide what is right for you.