Principal Design Manager

Principal Design Manager – NW - HMP Hindley, Wigan

Shape the Future of One of the UK's Most Significant Justice Projects

At Wates, we're delivering projects that leave a lasting legacy. We're looking for an experienced Principal Design Manager to join our team working on HMP Hindley, a flagship Ministry of Justice scheme that forms part of the UK's wider prison expansion programme. The project will deliver significant new accommodation and modern facilities, helping transform the justice estate for generations to come.

This is an opportunity to take a leading role on a major, complex construction project where your expertise will influence design excellence, buildability, compliance and project success from concept through to delivery.

The Role

As Principal Design Manager, you will lead the design management function across the project, managing the design process, consultant team and key stakeholder relationships to ensure design solutions are safe, coordinated, compliant and deliverable.

Working closely with operational, commercial and client teams, you'll drive design performance whilst maintaining programme certainty and quality throughout the project lifecycle.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the design management strategy across a large, high-profile construction project.
• Managing and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams and consultants.
• Ensuring compliance with Building Regulations, CDM requirements and statutory approvals.
• Identifying and mitigating design risks and opportunities.
• Championing design quality, innovation, sustainability and buildability.
• Working collaboratively with client, supply chain and delivery teams to achieve project outcomes.
• Supporting programme management, procurement activities and technical reviews.
• Mentoring and developing Design Managers and wider project teams.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience operating in a senior or principal design management role on major construction projects.
• Strong understanding of design coordination, technical assurance and project delivery.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder environments and multidisciplinary consultant teams.
• Excellent knowledge of UK construction legislation, standards and design processes.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance design quality, risk and programme requirements.
• Strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience within secure environments, public sector, healthcare, defence, infrastructure or justice projects would be advantageous.

Why Join Wates?

• Be part of a nationally significant project that will leave a lasting social legacy.
• Join one of the UK's leading Tier 1 contractors with a strong reputation for delivering complex projects.
• Work within a collaborative, supportive and forward-thinking team environment.
• Access excellent career development opportunities across our expanding project portfolio.
• Competitive salary, car allowance and comprehensive benefits package.

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