Job Description:

Design Manager (Residential)

Location: London – sites in various locations

Salary: £80,000

About the Opportunity

We're recruiting on behalf of a leading Main Contractor who has secured a strong pipeline of residential developments across London and is looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to join their team.

This role will focus predominantly on large-scale residential new build developments, with an emphasis on social housing and affordable housing schemes. As such, we're looking for someone with a proven track record of managing the design process on similar projects and a thorough understanding of the Building Safety Act, Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 requirements.

Working closely with the pre-construction, commercial and delivery teams, you'll play a key role in ensuring projects are fully coordinated, compliant and delivered efficiently from design through to completion.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a contractor with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality residential developments while offering genuine career progression and long-term stability.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Design Management, you'll take responsibility for managing the design process across one or multiple residential developments throughout all project stages.

You'll coordinate consultants, specialist subcontractors and internal teams, ensuring information is issued on time, design risks are managed and statutory compliance is achieved throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the design process from pre-construction through to project completion.
• Coordinate architects, structural engineers, MEP consultants and specialist subcontractors.
• Develop, monitor and manage design programmes to ensure key project milestones are achieved.
• Lead design team meetings and manage consultant performance.
• Review drawings, specifications and technical submissions to ensure buildability and compliance.
• Work closely with commercial, planning and site delivery teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify design risks and implement practical mitigation strategies.
• Manage design changes while maintaining programme and commercial objectives.
• Coordinate design information to support procurement and construction activities.
• Ensure projects comply with current Building Regulations and statutory requirements.
• Lead the Gateway 2 submission process, ensuring all required design information is complete, coordinated and compliant.
• Support Gateway 3 requirements through construction, commissioning and project handover.
• Liaise with the Building Safety Regulator where required.
• Maintain the Golden Thread of information throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure all design decisions are accurately documented and recorded.
• Support value engineering exercises without compromising compliance or quality.
• Promote collaboration between design consultants, site teams and supply chain partners.

About You

We're looking for an experienced Design Manager with a strong background delivering residential projects for a Main Contractor.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience working as a Design Manager for a Main Contractor.
• Proven experience delivering residential new build developments.
• Experience working on social housing or affordable housing projects.
• A thorough understanding of the Building Safety Act.
• Practical experience managing Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 compliance.
• Experience maintaining the Golden Thread of information.
• Strong knowledge of current Building Regulations and planning requirements.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of buildability.
• Experience using common document management systems such as Viewpoint, Asite, Aconex or Autodesk Construction Cloud would be advantageous.
• Degree or HNC/HND in Construction, Architecture, Engineering or a related discipline.

Apply

If you'd like to find out more about this opportunity, please submit your CV via the links on this page and one of the team at 12 Recruitment will be in touch for a confidential discussion.