Design Manager - Freelance
Posted 5 days ago by Buildforce Solutions Ltd
£400 Per day
Outside
Hybrid
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Summary: The role of Freelance Design Manager involves leading the design process for commercial construction projects valued up to £25 million. The position requires managing design consultants and ensuring compliance with regulations while supporting delivery teams during the design and preconstruction phases. This flexible role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety and autonomy in their work. The successful candidate will have a strong background in commercial projects and excellent communication skills.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate the design process from tender through to construction, ensuring buildability, compliance, and programme alignment
- Manage design consultants and subcontractor design packages
- Chair design team meetings and track deliverables against project milestones
- Identify and mitigate design risks early
- Liaise with clients, architects, and engineers to resolve technical queries
- Support value engineering and ensure designs meet budget and specification
Key Skills:
- Proven experience as a Design Manager within a main contractor environment
- Strong track record on commercial projects (offices, retail, industrial, mixed-use, apartments, residential)
- Confident managing multiple design packages and consultant relationships
- Solid understanding of UK Building Regulations, CDM, and relevant standards
- Excellent communication skills-equally comfortable in a design workshop or a site coordination meeting
- Self-sufficient and able to hit the ground running with minimal supervision
Salary (Rate): £400/day
City: Bridgnorth
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: outside IR35
Seniority Level: Mid-Level
Industry: Other
Freelance Design Manager
Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire (with site visits as required) Contract: Freelance | 2-3 days per week Sector: Commercial Construction
The Opportunity
My client is a Tier 2 main contractor with a strong pipeline of commercial build projects valued up to £25 million. We're looking for an experienced Design Manager to join them on a freelance basis, supporting our delivery teams through the design and preconstruction phases.
This is a flexible role suited to someone who thrives on variety, values autonomy, and wants to balance project work with other commitments.
What You'll Do
- Lead and coordinate the design process from tender through to construction, ensuring buildability, compliance, and programme alignment
- Manage design consultants and subcontractor design packages
- Chair design team meetings and track deliverables against project milestones
- Identify and mitigate design risks early
- Liaise with clients, architects, and engineers to resolve technical queries
- Support value engineering and ensure designs meet budget and specification
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience as a Design Manager within a main contractor environment
- Strong track record on commercial projects (offices, retail, industrial, mixed-use, apartments, residential)
- Confident managing multiple design packages and consultant relationships
- Solid understanding of UK Building Regulations, CDM, and relevant standards
- Excellent communication skills-equally comfortable in a design workshop or a site coordination meeting
- Self-sufficient and able to hit the ground running with minimal supervision
What We Offer
- Competitive day rate (negotiable based on experience)
- Flexible working pattern-typically 2–3 days per week, with scope to adjust around project demands
- A collaborative team and a varied project portfolio
- Opportunity for ongoing work as our pipeline grows
Interested?
Send your CV and day rate expectations to Heather Duncan in the Birmingham office. We'd love to hear from you.