Design Manager - Main Contractor

Design Manager – Main Contractor

Serving projects in Central London (site-based with travel across London and the Home Counties)

Who Is Walter Lilly?

Walter Lilly is a premier provider of construction and maintenance services for luxurious residential homes, iconic landmark and heritage buildings, and state-of-the-art science and higher education facilities across London and the Home Counties.

This year, the Company celebrates its 100th anniversary since our establishment in 1924.

Boasting an impressive track record of unique projects developed over the last century, we work with industry-leading architects, engineers, interior designers, and highly skilled tradespeople on a portfolio ranging from the UK’s most recognisable listed attractions to cutting-edge contemporary structures.

We now seek a Design Manager to join us on a permanent, full-time basis.

The Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Yearly discretionary performance bonus in December
• Car allowance plus reasonable travel expenses
• 26 days’ annual leave per annum increasing with service plus Bank Holidays
• Two paid volunteering days per annum
• Private medical insurance, personal accident cover
• Pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)
• High-quality training and continuous personal development opportunities
• Reimbursement of fees for one relevant professional body membership
• Flexible and hybrid working patterns where appropriate
• Fresh fruit, a monthly team meal, social events, and long service rewards
• Cycle to work and electric car leasing schemes

The Culture

At Walter Lilly, we work with each other and our clients in the spirit of collaboration. We recognise the expertise of those who have been with us for many years whilst investing in the next generation of rising industry stars, combining invaluable experience with fresh, innovative thinking.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to reach their full potential. We strive to create a culture where employees can bring themselves to work in line with our core values of integrity, honesty, and fairness.

Walter Lilly is committed to looking after its people and offers a range of health-related benefits, including wellbeing days, an Employee Assistance Programme and support from in-house trained Mental Health First Aiders. We are also passionate about improving the local communities in which we operate, targeting tangible social value outcomes that make a meaningful difference to everyday lives and the environment.

The Role

As a Design Manager, you will manage the design process to deliver technically compliant, cost-efficient and coordinated design packages, during both the pre-construction and project delivery stages.

You will bring together specialist subcontractors, design team members and consultants, creating a collaborative environment to deliver design information that meets our customer’s requirements and conforms to building regulations.

Managing your time on-site across your projects, you will have several key responsibilities:

• Preparing and managing on-time design information release
• Overseeing the timely production and approval of technical drawings
• Chairing design workshops
• Coordinating complex design packages
• Validating and interrogating design details, adding value to the construction process
• Providing expert guidance and technical support, working closely with both clients and project teams to identify and mitigate risks, as well as ensuring compliance with all statutory, legal, and planning requirements
• Preparing, implementing, and updating trackers to monitor the quality, compliance, timely production and progress of consultants and subcontractor design at all project stages
• Following best practice principles through all project stages
• Undertake design assurance and buildability reviews, ensuring designing deliverables are met and that alignment with commercial strategy is always maintained
• Monitoring risk, converting opportunities and recording, and assessing the impact of change on the project
• Reviewing the selection and scope of suitable subcontractors for specialist design packages
• Ensuring accurate and comprehensive records are maintained
• Managing the production of handover manuals
• Working with our document controllers in the set-up and management of the project’s common data environment
• Overseeing sample, mock-up and control sample production and approval, including occasional supplier visits and material selection trips

About You

To be considered as a Design Manager, you will need to demonstrate:

• Proven background of experience in managing the design process on complex projects
• Experience with managing Design and Build or Contractor Design Portions
• Able to attend projects in Central London with occasional travel outside
• An appetite for CPD
• A track record of successfully managing people and process
• Deep understanding of planning procedures, building regulations, listed building consents, CDM Regulations and other third-party requirements
• Knowledge of the commonly used provisions of the Standard Forms of Contract
• The ability to robustly interpret and interrogate drawings and technical specifications
• High attention to detail and quality
• Excellent time management and problem-solving ability
• Understanding of software such as Viewpoint, Revit, BIM Collab or Navisworks
• A relevant professional qualification or working towards (MCIOB, RIBA, RICS)
• Appropriate CSCS card
• A full, valid driving licence (desirable)
• A construction-related degree (desirable)

Other organisations may refer to this role as Construction Design Manager, Design Project Manager, Construction Design Project Manager, or Technical Design Manager.

How to Apply

So, if your skill set matches the above and the prospect of helping deliver some of the country’s finest projects appeals to you, please reach out via the button shown.

Your application will be processed by Walter Lilly and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as suitable candidates apply. We therefore encourage you to submit ASAP to avoid missing out.