Design Manager

Design Manager 
Plymouth
ASAP Start! 

One of the area's most diverse contractors with a busy pipeline of work across a number of sectors is seeking a freelance Design Manager to work on a long term contract role.
They work on a range of negotiated and tendered projects for both private and public sector clients encompassing Academic, Healthcare, Housing, MOD, Commercial and Industrial works and have a vast and impressive list of clients for whom they undertake high levels of repeat business.

As a Design Manager, you will be liaising with the site teams, senior management, consultants and architects to effectively manage the design process and be managing the external and internal design teams.

Main Duties:
• Develop innovative design solutions to clients’ briefs with input from the professional team and subcontractors.
• Develop relationships with clients during early concept stages; manage expectations of the project through regular communication and discussions regarding requirements and specifications.
• Manage the relationship for the whole project team - with the client, subcontractors and professional team resolve any queries.
• Identify and check contents for Contractors Proposals, qualifications list, design information and marketing documentation to accompany the tender.
• Adopt a proactive approach to value engineering throughout the design phase, by keeping up to date with latest construction techniques and legislation.
• Review the design on an ongoing basis, identify potential interface problems & practicalities in construction, and resolve with the design team and specialist subcontractors where appropriate.
• Ensure a smooth handover of the project to the project team, by becoming involved in the initial stages of project management on site, if required.
• Attend Contractor selection interviews, including preparation beforehand.
• Thoroughly appraise tender documentation when received to identify risk, opportunity, insufficient information, inadequate or incorrect design.
• Oversee the subcontract enquiries to subcontractor designed packages.
• Appoint / vet the Design Team. Ensuring terms and conditions of appointment/novation are acceptable, lead designer role is defined and all services we would normally expect are included.
• Manage the design team throughout the tender period and hold design team meetings as appropriate.
• Bid Management from first enquiry through to award of contract.
• Plan/manage the tender period to ensure that:
* Sufficient design information is received in time; 2. In conjunction with the Estimator ensure that the BQ is prepared sufficiently early; 3. Design subcontractors have sufficient information to prepare quotations; 4. Information for presentation purposes is in-hand by consultants and other departments.
• Manage the relationship with the client and their team.
• Prepare the Tender submission presentation including delegation of certain elements to other departments or administrative staff as appropriate.

Knowledge Skills & Experience required:
• Competent user of MS packages e.g., Outlook, Excel, Word (essential).
• Experience of Powerproject Team plan or similar (desirable).
• Causeway or similar estimating software (desirable).
• Comprehensive site experience in engineering or site management role (essential).
• Well developed Technical Construction knowledge (essential).
• Knowledge of current Building Regulations (essential).
• Knowledge of current BREEAM/Passivhaus requirements (essential).
• Degree qualified in a relevant construction subject (essential).
• Professionally qualified e.g., MCIOB (desirable).

Personal skills sought: 
• Ability to communicate with a range of people at all levels, both verbally and in writing (essential).
• Adaptable and flexible (essential).
• Ability to plan, organise and project manage (essential).
• Analytical problem solver (essential).
• Client and customer focused to build productive relationships (essential).
• Ability to make reasoned and informed judgements and decisions (essential).
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment (essential).
• Effective leadership skills (essential).

If the above all sounds familiar to you and you have a proven track record gained within a main contracting environment please forward your CV across today!