Senior Design Manager

Senior Design Manager | Dublin

We are partnering with a leading family-owned international construction and engineering group to recruit a Senior Design Manager, or a time-served Design Manager ready to step up to Senior level, to join the team on a major project in the Ireland East region.

The group delivers buildings, infrastructure, rail, energy and off-site manufacturing across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and supports its people to grow and make a real impact.

The Role

As Senior Design Manager, you will lead the delivery of effective design across multiple projects or a single large-scale project. You will lead the pre-construction and construction design processes, liaising with the client, client vendors, the design team, the in-house bid and operations teams, and digital and information functions. You will oversee the design and development of buildings, facades and internal processes, ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards.

The role is client-facing and requires wider stakeholder engagement. Travel is within the region, with a requirement to work between co-locations (site, office and client offices).

Responsibilities

Design Leadership

• Lead the pre-construction briefing and design processes
• Lead the company’s design management procedures, providing a functional link between commercial, construction, in-house digital and innovation teams and the designers throughout the project
• Implement processes that allow the design to be challenged and interrogated within a collaborative team framework
• Implement agreed processes for the production, control and distribution of design information at each project stage
• Ensure regular progress reporting on design
• Support the Design Leader in promoting innovation in design management, methodology and practices, and in applying the company’s vision and values

Technical and Compliance

• Check and verify information from design professionals and specialist contractors for conformity with Contract Documents, Employer’s Requirements, and statutory and third-party bodies, with regard to cost, programme and quality
• Ensure design information is thoroughly reviewed for buildability, safety, maintainability, completeness and compliance, and technical suitability before use
• Manage design compliance (client and legislative), information and change control
• Identify and resolve design and technical issues throughout the project lifecycle
• Identify opportunities to improve design processes and facility operations
• Drive Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and solutions optioneering

Stakeholders and Teams

• Work closely with scientists, engineers, contractors and regulatory agencies
• Manage design consultancies and specialist designers, and their deliverables against programme
• Manage and mentor design teams, including junior design managers and co-ordinators, ensuring they have the skills and resources to succeed

Contractual and Procurement Knowledge

• Strong understanding of procurement routes and contract administration, including Design & Build (D&B), EPCM, EPC, JCT and NEC
• Strong understanding of design stage plans of work (RIBA, RIAI and PWC) and how they reflect client design and procurement work stages

Experience

• Diploma or degree qualified with a minimum of 10 years’ experience
• Strong working knowledge of procurement routes, contract administration and design stage workflows
• A strong technical and design bias, from either an architectural/CSA or engineering/MEP background, with a good understanding of the other discipline
• Experience supporting both pre-construction and construction, with a leading role in reviewing, researching and implementing innovative design solutions at every design stage
• Ability to lead the tasks and processes of the design team
• Ability to liaise between the client, design consultants and project staff on design matters, and with Site Management on design packages and procurement strategies

Qualifications

• Degree in a construction-related discipline
• Minimum six years’ construction industry experience

Interested? Apply in confidence or get in touch for a discreet conversation. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality, and the client’s identity will be shared at the appropriate stage of the process.