Design Lead | Award winning Main Contractor | London | £85k+P

 

Our client is an award-winning 5 star contractor, creating a range of beautiful and award-winning new homes across London and the South East. Due to a strong pipeline of work, they currently require a Design Lead out of their Southern Region.

 

You will be leading on a new project in Central/South London (350 units) which will be a mix of buy to rent/affordable housing. The role will be initially office based, then will be full time on site once they start on site.

 

You will be responsible for the control of the Technical role on a project/projects on time, to budget, to agreed quality standards, safely, by motivating teams, and performing to the highest level. Responsible for adhering to and engaging with the quality management system and other company procedures at all times

 

Role responsibilities:

·        Promote health, safety, and environmental issues

·        Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, also ensuring designers risk assessments are appropriate and issued to the health and safety coordinator

·        Control the quality of drawn information and address any non-conformance issues

·        Review the suitability of all materials specified, and liaise with the purchasing department and/or suppliers

·        Maintain the reputation of the company for good quality of finish, positive action and achievement of predetermined targets

·        Adhere to quality management (ISO) procedures using correct forms and processes.

·        Undertake external consultant performance reviews during and on completion of the projects

·        Maintain or cause to have maintained the image that the company desires to be best in class

·        Ensure sales presentation is maintained at all times in conjunction with sales and marketing teams and strategy

·        To treat site presentation as the shop window to our business

·        Deliver design packages on time and accurately. Produce design reports to help monitor progress and report current position against agreed design programme

·        Produce design programmes to control the design development process

·        Organise and control the design development of the project in accordance with the Employers Requirements, specification, and the construction programme

·        Review and comment on the design and deal with all obstacles efficiently and appropriately

·        Ensure statutory undertaker quotations are paid to enable timely site delivery

·        Actively progress the discharge of all planning conditions in a timely manner, in accordance with the build programme and sales strategy

·        Drive liaison with local authority and statutory authorities to ensure that progress is maintained

·        Actively take part in regular site meetings to progress site delivery

·        Ensure that the company’s procedures for the appointment of external consultants are properly implemented and that appointments and warranties are signed by the consultants prior to first payment being made

·        Ensure subcontractor designs are reviewed and commented on in line with programme requirements.

·        Positively liaise and communicate with estimating, production, surveying, purchasing, resident liaison and accounts staff allocated to the project/s by the company to ensure their positive contribution to the project/s

·        Undertake review of issued drawings to ensure suitability for sales and marketing teams

·        Provide support to sales and marketing team with regards to customer and conveyancing queries

·        Ensure completed schemes are handed over to client/s in line with the contract requirements

·        Ensure appropriate processes are instigated as required in order to meet Golden Thread requirements

·        Convene and chair design team meetings

·        Ensure all consultant appointments (including scope of works, payment schedules and collateral warranties) are signed prior to a payment being made

·        Maximise profit by keeping all costs under control and exploring value engineering options; rigorously critiquing quotations, designs and material

·        Complete tender design & Build and Stats budgets and ensure the ‘settled’ budget is effectively managed and reported against through the life of each project

·        Ensure full commitment to company policies and procedures

·        Actively review and critique drawing information during the design development

·        Ensure all bonds and deposits are closed or recovered in a timely manner

·        Complete appraisals/assessments accurately and on time, if required

·        Work in partnership with other departments and proactively drive communication and problem solving to ensure objectives can be achieved

·        Motivate the activities of the site Technical team and ensure compliance with the company’s responsibilities

·        Communicate clearly, take ownership of problems, and deal with problems in a timely and effective fashion

·        Deal effectively with any poor standards appropriately with external personnel, to ensure design delivery and projects are functioning to the agreed programme

·        Promote and maintain good and professional relations with the client, consultants, adjoining owners, residents, subcontractors, and representatives from statutory authorities

·        Promote the Equal Opportunities policy of the company

·        Ensure those on the trainee programme are given experience and support in all areas to successfully complete the programme

 

Ideally you will have:

·        Relevant professional qualification to either Degree, HNC/HND, NVQ Level 5

·        Chartered Membership of a recognised Professional body eg RICS, CIOB, CIAT, RIBA etc

·        CDM for Principal Designers experience

·        A pro-active management style with capability to manage and coordinate the design team on challenging sites

·        Ability to prioritise and delegate as appropriate effectively negotiate, motivate and communicate in order to influence others to ensure that the required objectives are met on challenging sites

·        Effective people management of direct reports, giving feedback, direction, support and coaching.

·        Passionate about customer satisfaction, house building and construction, with a focus on high standards and excellence.

 

In return:

·        Up to £85000

·        Car/allowance

·        Healthcare

·        Bonus

·        Pension