Design Manager - Associate Director

Design Manager (Associate Director) – Data Centre – Tier One Main Contractor

£120,000 + Package

London

A leading Tier One Main Contractor is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join their delivery team on a major Data Centre project in London. This is a pivotal leadership role within a high-performing technical division, offering the opportunity to work on one of the UK’s flagship mission-critical developments.

Working closely with the Project Director and client-side design teams, the successful candidate will drive design excellence, manage consultants and subcontractors, and ensure that the design output aligns with programme, cost, and quality objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the design process for a large-scale data centre project in London.
• Manage and interface with multidisciplinary design teams, consultants, and specialist contractors.
• Ensure design deliverables meet project milestones, budgets, and compliance standards.
• Work closely with pre-construction and delivery teams to ensure design intent is realised on site.
• Oversee design change management, technical reviews, and value engineering processes.
• Champion best practices in digital design management, including BIM integration.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and technical direction to junior design management staff.

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Design Manager with a Tier One Main Contractor.
• Demonstrable experience delivering complex data centre or mission-critical projects.
• Strong understanding of MEP coordination and technical services integration.
• Degree qualified in Architecture, Engineering, or a related construction discipline.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with BIM and modern digital design tools.

If you’re interested in this position, please reach out to Matt Dade – matthew.dade@peoplegroup.com.