Are you an experienced Senior Design Manager ready to take ownership and make your mark on something built from the ground up?

I'm currently partnered with a growing residential contractor who is in the process of establishing a dedicated design function to support an expanding portfolio of mid and high-rise schemes across Central London. This is a rare opportunity to step into a role that carries real weight, not just delivering projects, but shaping the way design management operates within the business.

The Opportunity

This isn't a role that slots you into an existing structure. The contractor is at an exciting point of growth and wants someone with the experience and confidence to define how things are done. You'll be working across live residential schemes whilst simultaneously laying the foundations of a new team, hiring, building processes, creating frameworks, and forging key relationships across the business.

Day to Day Responsibilities

You'll take ownership of design delivery across mid to high-rise residential projects, managing multidisciplinary consultant teams including architects, engineers, and specialist subcontractors through all project stages. A strong grasp of Gateway 2 submissions, BSR requirements, and Building Safety Act 2022 compliance is essential, as is the ability to lead buildability reviews and proactively manage design risk.

Alongside project delivery, you'll play a central role in growing the team, contributing to recruitment decisions, establishing team protocols, and building strong working relationships with housing association and developer clients.

What They're Looking For

A main contractor background at Senior Design Manager level is essential, with a strong track record on residential schemes specifically. High-rise building regulations and Gateway processes should be well within your comfort zone. You'll need to be a confident team leader with the ability to build from scratch, and prior experience working with housing associations will be a real advantage. A relevant degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or similar is required.

Remuneration

A base salary of up to £95,000 is on offer, dependent on experience, alongside a company car or allowance, performance-related bonus, private healthcare, pension, and 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.

If you're at a point in your career where autonomy, influence, and the chance to build something meaningful appeals to you, this could be the right move. The business has a strong orderbook, a healthy pipeline, and genuine senior backing to do this properly.

Feel free to reach out for a confidential discussion.