Design Manager (Construction)

We are currently working in partnership with a leading Tier 1 main contractor who are looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to support their growing healthcare portfolio across Yorkshire and the North.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established business with a strong reputation for delivering complex construction projects within the healthcare sector.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for managing and coordinating design activities across a portfolio of healthcare projects throughout the region, working closely with senior leadership, pre-construction teams, project delivery teams, consultants and specialist supply chain partners.

Projects will include a range of healthcare developments, potentially covering new-build hospitals, healthcare extensions, refurbishments, clinical environments and works within live operational hospital settings.

This role offers exposure to a varied pipeline of projects, with the opportunity to influence design strategy, drive technical excellence and support the successful delivery of schemes that make a real difference to healthcare facilities and the communities they serve.

The Role

As Design Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and coordinating design activities across a portfolio of healthcare construction projects.

• Providing design management input from early-stage pre-construction and tender through to construction and project completion.

• Working closely with operational and pre-construction teams to develop project-specific design strategies.

• Managing multidisciplinary design teams, external consultants and specialist healthcare subcontractors.

• Ensuring design programmes are developed, monitored and aligned with procurement and construction programmes.

• Coordinating complex building services, structural and architectural design packages.

• Ensuring healthcare-specific technical standards, statutory requirements and client specifications are achieved.

• Driving buildability, value engineering and design optimisation opportunities.

• Managing design risks, technical queries and design-related programme challenges.

• Working with NHS Trusts, healthcare stakeholders, clinical representatives and end users to ensure design solutions meet operational requirements.

• Supporting the delivery of projects within live hospital environments, where phasing, infection control, patient safety and operational continuity are critical.

• Promoting best practice in BIM, digital design and information management.

About You

Our client is keen to speak with established Design Managers who have a strong main contracting background and experience delivering projects within the healthcare sector.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience as a Design Manager within a main contractor environment.

• Experience working on healthcare projects, ideally within acute hospital, NHS or wider healthcare environments.

• A strong understanding of design management processes from pre-construction through to delivery.

• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams and specialist supply chain partners.

• Knowledge of healthcare technical requirements, including relevant HTM and HBN guidance.

• An understanding of the complexities associated with working in live healthcare environments.

• Strong technical knowledge across architectural, structural and building services disciplines.

• Commercial awareness and an understanding of the relationship between design, procurement, cost and programme.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively with senior and project leadership teams.

A relevant degree or professional qualification in Architecture, Engineering or Construction would be advantageous.