Design Manager

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Design Manager to join our team based in Bristol.

In this role, you will lead and manage external design consultants, specialist subcontractors, and internal construction teams. Reporting to the Regional Design Lead, you will be key to delivering complete, accurate, buildable, and commercially viable design information on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in pre-construction bid management for Design & Build (D&B) and Traditional/CDP projects.
• Review tender documents, identify project risks and opportunities, and ensure alignment with Building Regulations and Employer’s Requirements.
• Lead creative workshops (such as Build it in a Day) to generate innovative, practical, and win-winning solutions.
• Capture key pre-commencement items including Planning Conditions, Building Control, BREEAM, Ecology, Energy (LZC/SAP/SBEM), and Highways requirements.
• Coordinate the selection, enquiry, appointment, and fee reviews for novated and Stepnell-selected design consultants and specialists.
• Challenge consultants to deliver optimal, viable, and competitive designs to agreed timescales while maintaining design responsibility.

Construction & Delivery:

• Work closely with Contracts Managers, Project Managers, Site Managers, and Quantity Surveyors to deliver integrated design solutions balancing buildability, cost, and programme.
• Establish and drive project Design Programmes, lead design coordination meetings/workshops, and manage decision trackers.
• Maintain and champion BIM principles and Execution Plans across project lifecycles.

Commercial & Quality Assurance:

• Maximise value engineering opportunities and track cost implications of design changes with the Quantity Surveyor.
• Ensure full compliance with contract conditions, budgets, statutory regulations, and third-party approvals (e.g., Building Control, BREEAM).

About You

• Experience: Proven track record in Design Management within a main contractor environment, supporting both tender bids and live site delivery.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of Building Regulations, Planning Conditions, BREEAM, Building Control, and statutory approvals process.
• BIM Proficiency: Practical knowledge of implementing and managing BIM execution plans.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong capability to identify value engineering opportunities, review fee scopes, and manage project design risk.
• Communication & Leadership: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to chair workshops, build strong relationships with clients and consultants, and lead multi-disciplinary teams.

Why Stepnell

At Stepnell, we’re passionate about empowering our people to thrive. We believe in building fulfilling and rewarding careers by investing in talent, nurturing growth, and inspiring innovation. With the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation, we’re proud to place our people at the heart of everything we do. Every team member is valued, and curiosity and collaboration are central to our team culture. We’re committed to enabling our people to make a real impact and drive meaningful change throughout our business.

To show our appreciation, we offer generous and competitive benefits including, an enhanced pension scheme with a Stepnell contribution of 7% to help secure your financial future, annual leave that increases with service and the flexibility to purchase more, a market leading employee referral scheme, and for eligible roles comprehensive health coverage, adjustable start and finish times and a car allowance or company car.

Join us in a collaborative and inclusive environment where your well-being is our priority, and your contributions are truly valued.

About Stepnell

As a family-owned business with over 155 years of history, Stepnell is built on stability, trust, and long-term thinking. We make decisions with the future in mind for our people, our clients, and our communities.

Our capabilities span construction, property development, energy solutions, joinery, and concrete repair, allowing us to offer integrated services that meet a wide range of client needs. Operating through six regional offices in Rugby, Nottingham, Liverpool, Wantage, Bristol, Southampton, Exeter and across three core business units, we maintain a strong local presence while delivering consistently high standards. Today, repeat clients account for 75% of our turnover, a testament to our reliability and the quality of our relationships.

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