Design Manager

Job Title: Design Manager - Project Coordinator

Job Summary:

United Living Group is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Design Manager - Project Coordinator to join our team. As a Design Manager - Project Coordinator, you will be responsible for leading technical and design processes, managing external design consultants, and coordinating with the wider United Living team and business partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• 
  
• Manage technical design processes, including design teams and subcontractors, throughout design, procurement, and construction.
  
• Coordinate with the wider United Living team and business partners to ensure effective communication and delivery.
  
• Review and input into allocated bids to assess technical aspects, design requirements, compliance, consultant fee requirements, and production of design programme.
  
• Monitor progress to ensure delivery on time and in budget.
  
• Develop and manage project-specific design programmes, including coordination with external design consultants.
  
• Select, appoint, and manage external design consultants.
  
• Undertake thorough reviews and interrogation of consultants and subcontractor designs.
  
• Review and assess alternative build methods and practices.
  
• Keep up to date on new and innovative products.
  
• Manage and coordinate external consultants in their day-to-day duties related to design, coordination, and technical aspects of production information.
  
• Ensure that designs comply with company standards.
  
• Promote design that respects budgetary constraints.
  
• Organise and manage weekly, fortnightly, or monthly technical coordination workshops, package reviews, and design team meetings.
  
• Ensure that all aspects of the building design are fully coordinated, including structures, M&E, façades, internal specification, service strategies, maintenance strategies, etc.
  
• Ensure fully complete, correct, and coordinated packages are issued to Commercial and Construction teams.
  
• Maintain and deliver in accordance with company values.
  
• Manage subcontractor and supplier design approvals, ensuring timely turnaround.
  
• Monitor subcontractor design approvals and keep up-to-date approvals schedules in line with build programme.
  
• Manage the flow of information to Commercial, Operations, and Client.
  
• Update and coordinate monthly design schedules.
  
• Review and coordinate design and technical-related issues with the Commercial and Operations teams.
  
• Monitor changes from Client, design consultants, subcontractors, and proposed changes by construction team.
  
• Manage change control process for variations in relation to drawing revisions, construction programmes, and costs.
  
• Collate all required information and liaise with Planning Authorities and Building Control to make submissions and obtain all necessary approvals as required.
  
• Oversee document control with regards to registration and distribution of design and technical information.
  
• Monitor and manage the processing of information through workflows on the document management system.
  
• Ensure current drawings are filed in order and design information exchange is as per the company protocol.
  
• Undertake site visits as required.
  
• Attend site meetings and monthly/weekly project meetings.
  
• Monitor work executed on site to ensure that it is as benchmarked and as designed/specified.
  
• Manage, investigate, and respond promptly with full close-out to RFIs from site team and subcontractors.
  
• Review and advise on corrective measures for identified design issues.
  
• Monitor and obtain all critical certificates to ensure documentation is in place for completion and handovers.
  
• Oversee and participate in the collation of handover information, H&S files, O&M manuals, and resident packs.
  
• At all times comply with company policies, procedures, and instructions.
  
• Comply with responsibilities as laid down in the group's health, safety, and environmental policy.
  
• Ensure that United Living's drive for world-class Health and Safety is delivered in all aspects of your work.
  

Qualifications:

Essential:

• 
  
• Thorough with a pro-active management style.
  
• Capability to lead and coordinate with managers across a wider team.
  
• Ability to prioritise and delegate as appropriate, effectively negotiate, motivate, and communicate in order to influence others to ensure that the required objectives are met.
  
• An analytical approach to work with an eye for detail.
  
• Leadership skills, including assertiveness, being decisive, flexible, good time management, organised, effective at leading/participating in meetings, works well under pressure and to strict deadlines.
  
• Ability to review drawings and identify buildability and technical issues.
  
• Effective people management of direct reports, including goal setting, performance management, giving feedback, direction, support, and coaching.
  
• Project and process management.
  
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
  
• Design delivery and assessing risks.
  
• Effective communication with all levels of management and project teams, both internal and external to the Company.
  
• Proven track record of successfully managing all aspects of the design and technical process in relation to residential buildings.
  
• Minimum Level 4 (HNC/NVQ4 etc.) Architectural qualification (or equivalent design, technical, and/or construction-based qualification) and/or
  
• Minimum 5 years' Experience in the design and detailing of mixed-use residential-led schemes.
  
• Up-to-date relevant construction industry knowledge, including legislation and procedures.
  
• Valid driving licence.
  
• Knowledge of methodology and sequencing process in delivering a construction project, including design and pre-construction activities.
  
• Relevant Design and Build experience.
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  

Desirable:

• 
  
• Passionate about construction and customer satisfaction, with a focus on high standards and excellence.
  
• Proven track record of design requirements for procurement and construction purposes.
  
• In-depth knowledge of contractual requirements, section agreements, and utility application process.
  
• Tenacious and driven.
  
• Strong practical knowledge of construction work types, methods, and design solutions.
  
• Experience with CAD (AutoCAD or Revit).
  
• Knowledge & understanding of BIM.
  
• Member of relevant professional body (CIOB, CIAT, or RICS).
  
• Experience of Building Safety Act relevant works.
  
• Experience of retrofit works.
  

Additional Information:

United Living Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and want to ensure that our workplace reflects the diversity of our community. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

United Living Group is a leading infrastructure, construction, and property services company in the UK. We help our customers and the communities they serve benefit from resilient infrastructure, affordable homes, and improved living spaces that are fit for the future. Our mission is to be the partner and employer of choice for designing, building, maintaining, and connecting communities and critical infrastructure, to create a more sustainable and inclusive society.

United Living Group is comprised of four complementary businesses, all dedicated to realising our vision of creating a connected, sustainable future:

• 
  
• Property Services – We revitalise homes and communities through the regeneration of living spaces, breathing new life into neighbourhoods.
  
• Infrastructure Services – Our team of infrastructure specialists design, build, and maintain critical energy and water infrastructure, for the UK's largest network owners and operators.
  
• New Homes – As experienced and specialist new build housing contractors, we create homes and regenerate areas with communities in mind.
  
• Connected – We connect people through fixed-line and wireless telecom infrastructure, ensuring seamless communication and access to information for all.
  

Our company values are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in:

• 
  
• Delivering exceptional customer service.
  
• Being a great place to work, where our people can thrive and grow.
  
• Building strong relationships with our customers, partners, and suppliers.
  
• Being responsible and sustainable in all our business activities.
  

We are proud to be a part of the United Living Group and look forward to welcoming you to our team.