Design Manager

Position: Design Manager ( 6 Month Contract )
Sector: Fit-Out & Refurbishment (Healthcare, Education & More)
Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire
Agency: ITS Construction Professionals
Key Responsibilities Tender Stage:

• Review incoming tender drawings to identify discrepancies and design gaps.
• Support pre-construction and estimating teams by identifying commercial advantages that can strengthen bid submissions.
• Engage with client-side design teams early to gather information and build relationships.
• Identify and propose value engineering (VE) opportunities.
• Work with internal teams to develop and agree on the design and information release schedule.
• Assist with interpreting design intent and liaising with specialist subcontractors for accurate costing.
• Produce bespoke Architectural Appreciation documents for tender submissions.
• Read and understand Employers Requirements and Design Specifications to ensure subcontractor returns are accurate and fully compliant.
• Attend mid-bid and post-tender interviews as a key contributor to successful project acquisition.

Post-Award / Pre-Construction:

• Collaborate with the pre-construction team to prepare all design deliverables for the build phase.
• Review all construction drawings for completeness, compliance, and any deviations from tender sets.
• Prepare Information Required Schedules (IRS) and coordinate the drawing information release programme.
• Work with client design teams to produce and manage sample approval schedules.
• Identify and manage all required mock-ups and benchmarks in coordination with the delivery team.
• Support procurement by reviewing and validating trade packages against project specifications and Employers Requirements.
• Ensure smooth and compliant information flow across consultants, subcontractors, and internal teams.
• Review design against Building Control and fire strategy requirements to ensure full compliance.

Construction Phase:

• Manage the progression of design from RIBA Stages 2/3 through to 4/5/6.
• Organise, chair, and document all Design Team Meetings (DTMs) with subcontractors and clients.
• Monitor site works for quality, compliance, and coordination with design specifications.
• Identify buildability improvements and commercial efficiencies through alternative materials or contractor proposals.
• Maintain timely release and distribution of design information across all teams.

• Coordinate closely with Technical Services Managers and the site team to support programme adherence.

• Comfortable working independently or within a team, from site or office as needed.

• Competent in CAD; experience with REVIT or other 3D modelling tools is highly advantageous.

• Commercially aware with the ability to manage and prioritise multiple projects.

• Why Apply?

• This is a fantastic opportunity to join a progressive and professional team delivering high-quality refurbishment projects across Healthcare, Education, and other specialist sectors. You ll be key to ensuring projects run smoothly from design through to handover, with a strong focus on coordination, quality, and client satisfaction.