Senior Design Manager

Salary/Rate:£80,000 to £85,000 plus benefits
Job type:Perm
Town/City:Derby
Country:United Kingdom
Job ref:United Kingdom
Post Date:14. 09. 2026
Scroll

About the Role

Senior Design Manager

Location: Derby

Salary: Up to £85,000 + Executive Package

About the Role

An outstanding opportunity for a Senior Design Manager to join a well-established, family-owned main contractor based in Derby. Renowned for high-quality project delivery, financial stability, and exceptional staff retention, the business operates across the Midlands delivering schemes valued between £5m and £30m.

Focusing predominantly on JCT Design & Build contracts, the pipeline spans education, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and leisure sectors. Due to ongoing growth, they are seeking an experienced Design Manager to take overall technical lead from early preconstruction right through to site delivery.

Key Requirements

  • End-to-End Leadership: Proven track record managing design teams across both Preconstruction (bids, two-stage tenders, consultant appointments) and Delivery phases.
  • Sector Expertise: Strong exposure to Education schemes—specifically Department for Education (DfE) technical frameworks and output specifications—alongside general commercial/industrial experience.
  • Technical & CDE Systems: Solid working knowledge of Common Data Environments (CDE), with direct experience in Viewpoint considered a strong advantage.
  • Contract Knowledge: Deep understanding of JCT D&B contracts, buildability reviews, and compliance management.
Key Responsibilities

  • Lead design management operations from early bid/pre-con stage through to site completion.
  • Direct and coordinate external consultants, sub-contractors, and internal delivery teams.
  • Establish and drive design programmes, statutory approvals, quality assurance, and Building Safety Act compliance.
  • Act as the technical design authority across assigned regional projects, reporting directly to the Head of Design.
  • Interface with clients, academy trusts, and local authority stakeholders to align Employer’s Requirements.
What’s on Offer

  • Company Stability: Join a respected, family-owned regional contractor with a solid balance sheet and long-term project pipeline.
  • Career Growth: Clear progression path working directly alongside the Head of Design with real autonomy.
  • Package: Competitive basic salary up to £85k, car allowance/company vehicle, private healthcare, enhanced pension, and performance bonus.
To Apply

To discuss this position in complete confidence, please submit your CV or contact Cruise Control Recruitment directly.

More jobs from this recruiter

View All

Senior Design Manager

Derby
United Kingdom
£80,000 to £85,000 plus benefits
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Design Manager to join a well-established, family-owned regional contractor based in Derby, known for its strong reputation, quality of work and excellent staff retention.

Maintenance Engineer | 8-Hour Shifts (No More 12s!)

Runcorn
United Kingdom
£48,000 + Overtime + Premium Benefits
Hands-on Maintenance Engineer role in Runcorn, Cheshire, with 8-hour shifts, strong benefits and development opportunities. Commutable from Warrington, Manchester, Northwich and Ellesmere Port.

Senior Estimator – Major Civils & Infrastructure

Solihull
United Kingdom
£90,000 – £100,000 + Competitive Benefits Package (Car Allowance, Pension, Healthcare)
Are you an experienced Senior Estimator with a strong technical background in groundworks, highways, drainage, and concrete structures? Lead high-value civils tenders for a leading UK infrastructure specialist.

Design Manager

Derby
United Kingdom
£60,000 to £75,000 plus car, allowance, plus benefits
Design Manager – Major Civils & Infrastructure | Derby | £60,000 – £75,000 + Car Allowance We are seeking a Design Manager to oversee multidisciplinary design integration for a landmark civils and infrastructure project in Derby. Managing the process from pre-construction through to delivery and handover, you will act as the principal interface between clients, consultants, and site teams to ensure packages are buildable, compliant, and on schedule. The ideal candidate will hold an engineering/construction qualification, proven main contractor or consultancy experience in major civils, and strong knowledge of CDM 2015 and NEC/JCT contracts