Senior Design Manager

Location: Hackney, London
Level: Senior Design Manager
Sector: Residential / Regeneration / High-Risk Buildings (HRB)

£80k – £95k + Package

Overview

We are working alongside a leading contractor who is seeking an experienced and proactive Senior Design Manager to oversee design delivery across multiple residential High-Risk Building (HRB) schemes in Hackney. This senior role requires strong leadership capability, exceptional technical understanding, and deep knowledge of the Building Safety Act (BSA), including Gateways and the Golden Thread requirements.

The successful candidate will provide strategic design leadership, ensuring fully compliant and expertly coordinated design information throughout all project stages.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Design Team Management

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary design teams, ensuring collaboration, clear communication, and timely delivery of design information.
• Chair design meetings, set priorities, delegate tasks, and oversee performance of Design Managers, Coordinators, and project consultants.
• Mentor and support junior team members, promoting a culture focused on quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Set design strategy and drive excellence across architectural, structural, MEP, and façade disciplines.

HRB & BSA Compliance

• Ensure all design output meets the full requirements of the Building Safety Act, including Gateways 2 and 3, responsibilities, competence requirements, and accountable person obligations.
• Maintain, oversee, and quality-check the Golden Thread of information, ensuring accurate record keeping and digital information management.
• Coordinate closely with Building Control, Fire Engineers, Principal Designers (CDM/BR), and safety specialists to secure approvals.
• Lead the development and submission of Safety Case Reports, Fire & Emergency Files, and change control documentation.

Design Coordination & Technical Oversight

• Oversee and approve all design packages across disciplines, ensuring compliance with regulations, planning conditions, and project requirements.
• Lead design risk assessments, ensuring early identification of risks and implementation of mitigation strategies.
• Manage design programmes, trackers, and release schedules in line with procurement and construction sequencing.
• Review and sign off technical details, façade designs, fire strategies, MEP coordination, structural solutions, and subcontractor packages.

Construction & Delivery Support

• Work directly with construction teams to ensure buildability, logistics alignment, and efficient sequencing.
• Resolve complex technical challenges during design and delivery phases.
• Support tendering and procurement by reviewing technical submissions, clarifying design responsibilities, and challenging non-compliant proposals.
• Ensure site teams have accurate, coordinated, and up-to-date technical information at all times.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a senior technical representative in client meetings, consultant workshops, authority consultations, and internal leadership sessions.
• Build strong relationships with project partners and stakeholders, ensuring clarity, transparency, and consistent communication.
• Present design progress updates, compliance reports, and risk assessments to clients and senior leadership.

Experience & Skills Required

Essential

• Proven experience as a Senior Design Manager or an experienced Design Manager ready to step up.
• In-depth understanding of High-Risk Buildings (HRBs) and the technical, regulatory, and fire safety considerations involved.
• Strong working knowledge of the Building Safety Act, including Gateways, Building Safety Case principles, and the Golden Thread.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary design teams on multi-storey residential projects.
• Expert understanding of building regulations, construction methodology and fire safety design.
• Strong leadership, communication, coordination, and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Experience on London-based residential or regeneration schemes.
• Familiarity with digital information management platforms (Asite, ACC, Viewpoint, BIM platforms).
• Professional membership with RIBA, CIAT, CIOB, ICE, or similar.