Senior Design Manager/Design Lead

Getting the design right is crucial to the success of our projects, we are expanding our preconstruction team and recruiting a Design Lead for our project in Plymouth. The successful candidate will work in a hybrid way from our preconstruction office in Exeter, home and onsite.
The main role of a Design Lead at Willmott Dixon is to manage the design process, promote integration of disciplines and select, manage, and appoint consultants to ensure that they perform in line with their deed and agreed scope of services.

You will therefore be able to overview, monitor and report on design programmes, and provide technical support to the bid and throughout the build phase.  In addition, you will be developing designs that utilise innovative techniques on multiple/complex projects.

The Project

Your initial project will be the new Emergency Care Centre at Derriford hospital, this project is marking a significant step forward in enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services. Spanning across 17,000 square meters, this purpose-built facility is poised to revolutionise emergency care provision, offering advanced amenities and streamlined processes aimed at optimising patient outcomes and experience.

The key responsibilities are:

• Lead the design process to produce accurate information in line with the agreed specification and cost plan / estimate.


• It is also equally important to manage the appointment of consultants and ensure that they perform in line with their deed and agreed scope of services.


• Develop a design programme with the consultants to meet the agreed whole life programme dates.


• Provide cost effective technical solutions.


• Chair design team meetings and issue actions


• Produce designs that meet all necessary statutory and regulatory approvals and record on appropriate tracking logs.

The ideal candidate

• Will have led the design management on healthcare projects.


• Understand CAD, Microsoft Office, and various other construction technology.


• Be able to read and interpret drawings and technical specifications.


• Able to manage specialist designers/ subcontractors and supply chain partners.


• Hold a valid driving license and a CSCS card.

In return

In return we provide you a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package to fit your lifestyle and priorities, the opportunities for you to develop your career with Willmott Dixon and the training to make this happen - but most importantly a great place to work with a true family ethos and a chance to develop your career of a lifetime!

At Willmott Dixon we provide an inclusive and flexible working environment for people to thrive in and we are happy to support agile working wherever possible.
We are a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive. Willmott Dixon was recently awarded No 1 in the Best "big" Companies (2022) to work for and already holds the Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2022 and is the first major contractor and developer to win a King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.