Job Description

Location: Wiltshire (Hybrid)

Salary: £80,000 – £90,000 per annum

Sector: High-Tech Design & Build | Defence, MOD & Nuclear

Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

Senior Design Manager

The client is a leading design & build contractor operating across the data, defence, and energy sectors. They deliver end-to-end solutions, from site acquisition and architecture through to construction, refurbishment, and final client handover. Their projects are complex, high-spec environments that demand specialist expertise, technical excellence, and innovative thinking.

This is a standout opportunity for a Senior Design Manager to take ownership of technically challenging, high-security projects where design plays a critical role in successful delivery.

The Opportunity

As Senior Design Manager, you’ll lead the design process from bid stage through to completion — ensuring designs are coordinated, compliant, buildable, and aligned with programme and commercial objectives.

You’ll act as the key interface between clients, consultants, and delivery teams, driving performance, managing risk, and ensuring design excellence throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the full design process from pre-construction through to handover
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams, consultants, and subcontractors
• Ensure compliance with client requirements, Building Regulations, and CDM
• Drive design quality, buildability, and cost-effective solutions
• Align design deliverables with procurement and construction programmes
• Manage design risk, change control, and technical queries
• Support procurement strategy and define design responsibilities within packages
• Act as the central point of contact for all design-related matters
• Mentor and support junior team members

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Design Manager within construction
• Strong background in design & build projects, ideally in complex or regulated sectors
• Experience across both pre-construction and live project environments
• Solid understanding of Building Regulations and CDM requirements
• Ability to interrogate Employer’s Requirements and contribute to Contractor’s Proposals
• Strong leadership, coordination, and communication skills
• Commercial awareness with the ability to drive value engineering

Experience within defence, nuclear, data centres or similar high-security environments is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Salary: £80,000 – £90,000 per annum
• Car allowance (where applicable)
• Competitive pension scheme
• Electric vehicle scheme
• Private healthcare and cash plan
• Eyecare vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays + birthday leave

Why Apply?

• Work on complex, high-value and technically challenging projects
• Join a specialist contractor with a strong reputation in secure sectors
• Play a key role in shaping project delivery from early stages
• Hybrid working offering flexibility and balance
• Clear opportunities for progression and long-term career development