Design Manager

Description:

Company Description

United Living 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. From delivering large programmes of work for social housing providers, to ensuring the highest building safety standards, we provide a range of services for public sector clients.

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. The work we do supports the requirement for effective solutions to address the UK’s decarbonisation goals, and our processes minimise environmental and carbon impacts, whilst ensuring the safe and reliable operation of assets.

New Homes - As experienced and specialist new build housing contractors, we create homes and regenerate areas with communities in mind. We work collaboratively with registered partners, local authorities, and private developers to provide high quality, energy efficient, and sustainable homes for people to live and grow.

Connected - We connect people through fixed-line and wireless telecom infrastructure, ensuring seamless communication and access to information for all. At United Living, we have one of the largest specialist in-house teams for project management, acquisition, design, construction, and maintenance in the UK.

Job Description

Purpose

To be responsible for all design and technical aspects of projects ensuring delivery on budget and to programme. This will entail effective management of external consultants together with the ability to communicate effectively with the wider United Living team and business partners.

Ensure the design is fully coordinated and complies with United Living’s requirements and current regulations, to achieve the necessary approvals and enable a start on site in line with agreed programmes.

Responsibilities 

Lead technical and design processes, design teams and subcontractors throughout design, procurement and construction, monitoring progress to ensure delivery on time and in budget
Technical design management of schemes, in accordance with agreed programme, ensuring company targets are met and that the maximum revenue is generated by the quality, cost effectiveness and buildability of the design.
Review and input into allocated bids to assess technical aspects, design requirements, compliance, consultant fee requirements and production of design programme.  Assess the quality of received information, identify value engineering opportunities, risks, collate consultants costs and prepare contractors proposals
Review ER technical specifications
Produce, develop, control and manage the project specific design programme which is part of broader master delivery programme
Selection, appointment and management of 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 and to ensure delivery within the constraints of time, quality, budget and technical requirements, driving a high standard
Ensure that designs comply with company standards
Promoting 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 but not restricted to, structures, M&E, façades, internal specification, service strategies, maintenance strategies etc.
Ensure fully complete, correct and coordinated packages 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 dated approvals schedule 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 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 skillsDesirable

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 (e.g. CIOB, CIAT, or RICS)
Experience of Building Safety Act relevant worksExperience of retrofit works

Additional Information

If you are ready to be part of our expanding team and contribute to our success, apply today for immediate consideration. Join us on this exciting journey of growth and innovation!

As a business United Living prefer to hire directly and we will be in touch with our PSL Agencies if we require support. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If speculative CVs are sent, no fee will be applicable