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About the Role
My Client is seeking an experienced Design Manager with specialist expertise in facades, external works, and hard landscaping to join their project team delivering a major mixed-use leisure development in East London. The role will focus on leading and managing the design process for the building envelope and public realm works, ensuring design intent, technical compliance, and buildability are achieved to programme and budget.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the design process for facade systems, external envelope, hard landscaping, and public realm packages from Stage 3/4 through to completion.
- Coordinate between architects, facade consultants, landscape architects, structural engineers, MEP, and contractors to ensure integrated design solutions.
- Review design deliverables for technical compliance, quality, and alignment with employer's requirements.
- Lead design workshops, facade and landscaping reviews, and resolution of technical design queries.
- Ensure buildability and sequencing are considered in design development in consultation with construction teams.
- Monitor design progress against programme, identifying and mitigating design risks early.
- Manage design change control processes and provide technical input into procurement strategies.
- Liaise with local authorities, planners, and statutory bodies where required for design approvals.
- Support tender package development, scope definition, and contractor design deliverables reviews.
- Drive sustainability, durability, and technical performance objectives across facade and landscape design.
- Maintain robust design records, trackers, and meeting minutes to ensure design audit trail and compliance.
Requirements
- Degree-qualified in Architecture, Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum 5 years' experience as a Design Manager or similar role, with demonstrable expertise in facades, externals, and hard landscaping on large-scale mixed-use, leisure, or commercial projects.
- Strong technical knowledge of facade systems, hardscape materials, waterproofing, interfaces, and external works design standards.
- Confident in managing multi-disciplinary teams, design coordination, and consultant performance.
- Excellent organisational and communication skills with the ability to influence and resolve complex design issues.
- Familiarity with CDM, planning conditions, BREEAM/sustainability integration, and London-specific planning and design requirements.
- Proficiency in reading and reviewing technical drawings and specifications.
Desirable
- Chartered status (MICE, RIBA, MCIAT, or equivalent)
- Experience in BIM-based design coordination workflows.
- Cat A Commercial and/or Hotel experience would be desirable
- BREEAM experience is essential
- Freelance Contract nominally six months
- Position will be 100% site based
