Job Description

About the role
Are you a proven design leader with a passion for delivering technically challenging projects?
We are seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to join our team and drive design excellence across a portfolio of large-scale complex developments.
As Senior Design Manager, you will take a pivotal role in strengthening the technical capability of our design function. Working closely with Project Directors, Consultants and Contractors, you will provide leadership and oversight through every stage of the design and delivery process. Your ability to bring clarity to complex challenges will ensure we achieve innovative, buildable and commercially sound solutions.
What you'll be doing
As Senior Design Manager, you will:

• Lead the development and implementation of design proposals, ensuring they meet customer requirements, including budget constraints, presenting proposals for approval to the customer

• Manage and ensure effective briefing of the Design Team including M&E elements. This includes the management of any 3rd parties or novated design teams to ensure that they meet all customer specifications and where necessary, checking the competence and resources of any incumbent design teams or 3rd parties.

• Management of consultants.

• Development and management of design programme to align and integrate with the contract programme.

• Provide advice and guidance on the "buildability" of the design proposals to the design and construction teams on all packages

• Liaise with all statutory bodies/authorities as required - such as town planning, building control and services e.g. gas and water.

• Ensure that all design work complies with relevant building codes, regulations, and safety standards.

• Ensure that construction risks are review and reduced / eliminated throughout the designs

Who we're looking for
You will have:

• This role requires an individual with proven experience at a senior level in delivering design services within a Work Winning environment and or in delivery of a project and successfully implementing design strategies as well as relevant project experience

• Leadership skills are required to deliver design services in a timely manner with a customer and business sector specific focus

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills are required, coupled with an ability to form effective relationships with partners and delivery team members under time pressure

• Experience of leading a team and/or coaching team members is desirable

• Numeracy and bid/report writing is a requirement

• The individual will know 'what good looks like' in bid submissions and work winning and have hands on experience of delivering work-winning bids in a timely manner

• Good working knowledge of BIM is required

• The individual will have experience within the most current forms of procurement

• Relevant professional membership with an appropriate institute, e.g. RIBA, BIBSE, IET, aligned to the workstream is recommended

• A valid CSCS card is a requirement

• Excellent IT Skills relevant to the Business Stream are desirable and Microsoft Office is essential

• Detailed knowledge of codes of practice and other regulatory material, applicable to the business stream

• The individual should have a desire to continuously pursue innovation and development, with a focus on the customer and the relevant business stream

Why work for us
Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK's most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.
Why join us?
As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:
- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more...
About us
Operating across England and Wales, our buildings teams create places where people live, are cared for, work, learn, meet and have fun, with a focus on the aviation, health, defence, education and development sectors.
Diversity and inclusion
At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit
To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit:
We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at:

Skills Required