Design Manager

Location: Hackney, London
Project Type: High-Rise Residential (HRB)
Contract Type: Permanent / Full-Time

Overview

We are currently seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the technical and design coordination for a complex High-Risk Building (HRB) residential scheme in Hackney. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience delivering multi-storey residential developments and a strong working knowledge of the Building Safety Act (BSA), particularly its gateway process, duty holder roles, and safety case requirements.

This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in shaping a major London regeneration project, working closely with internal technical teams, external consultants, and key stakeholders to ensure fully compliant and high-quality design delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

Design Coordination & Management

• Lead the coordination, review, and approval of architectural, structural and MEP design packages for an HRB residential project.
• Manage design delivery across all RIBA stages, ensuring information is fully aligned with programme and sequencing requirements.
• Chair design team meetings, manage design actions, and maintain clear communication between consultants, subcontractors, and companies project teams.
• Coordinate design information to support quality benchmarks, buildability, logistics, and sequencing of high-rise construction.

Building Safety Act & HRB Compliance

• Ensure all design information meets the requirements of the Building Safety Act, including Gateways 2 and 3, duty holder obligations, and the “Golden Thread” of information.
• Oversee the preparation and coordination of documents needed for the Safety Case, Fire & Emergency File, digital record management, and change control procedures.
• Liaise with Principal Designer (CDM and BR), Building Control, Fire Engineers, and Safety Consultants to ensure regulatory compliance at every stage.
• Monitor and manage design risks, ensuring mitigation strategies are documented and implemented as required for HRB standards.

Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Review and sign off all technical drawings, subcontractor designs, specifications, and calculations.
• Ensure compliance with UK Building Regulations, Approved Documents, warranty provider requirements, planning conditions, and internal design procedures.
• Support the development and maintenance of the Design Delivery Programme (DDP) in line with the overall project programme.
• Manage technical queries and RFIs from site, ensuring timely resolution.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with internal teams (Construction, Commercial, Planning, and Quality) to ensure seamless project delivery.
• Liaise with local authorities, planners, utilities providers, and statutory bodies throughout the design process.
• Maintain strong working relationships with consultants, subcontractors, and client representatives, ensuring transparent and collaborative engagement.

Project Delivery Support

• Provide design leadership during procurement, supporting subcontractor tender reviews, technical assessments, and contract scope preparation.
• Coordinate the release of construction information, ensuring the site team is working to the most current design packages.
• Support design responses for client meetings, progress reporting, and technical presentations.

Experience & Skills Required

Essential

• Proven experience working as a Design Manager (or Senior Design Coordinator ready to step up) for a main contractor or developer delivering HRB residential projects.
• Strong working knowledge of the Building Safety Act, including Gateways and the “Golden Thread”.
• Experience of coordinating multidisciplinary design teams on medium to high-rise residential schemes.
• Ability to interpret complex drawings and technical details across architecture, structures, MEP, and fire engineering.
• Excellent understanding of construction methodology, façade systems, fire compliance, and building regulations.
• Strong communication, problem-solving and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Experience working on London based regeneration or mixed-use developments.
• Knowledge of digital information management systems (e.g., ACC, Asite, Viewpoint).
• Relevant professional membership (RIBA, CIAT, CIOB, or Similar).