Senior Design Manager in City of London

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Job Description

Senior Design Manager – Commercial Fit-Out (CAT A & CAT B)

Location: London (Zone 1–2 projects) • Salary: £90,000–£100,000 base + annual bonus + project-specific bonuses

Employer: Leading Main Contractor • Employment Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

A top-tier main contractor is seeking a proven Senior Design Manager to lead CAT A and CAT B office fit-out projects across London. You’ll take full ownership of the design process from pre-con to handover, driving quality, buildability, cost, and programme on fast-track, high-spec schemes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the end-to-end design management across RIBA Stages 2–6 for CAT A/B commercial fit-outs.
• Chair design team meetings; manage consultants, specialist subcontractors, and client stakeholders.
• De-risk design through buildability reviews, value engineering, and rigorous change control.
• Ensure compliance with UK Building Regulations, CDM 2015, fire strategy, acoustic and MEP coordination requirements.
• Oversee timely information release to meet procurement and construction programmes.
• Manage design QA: drawings/specs, RFIs, technical submittals, sample approvals, O&Ms/as-builts.
• Collaborate closely with project and commercial teams on sequencing, logistics, and cost control.
• Promote digital workflows (e.g., model/drawing reviews, CDEs) and best practice design governance.

About You

• Must have: demonstrable experience working for a main contractor in London on CAT A and CAT B commercial fit-outs.
• 7+ years’ design management (or similar) with a strong technical grasp of interiors/MEP coordination.
• Track record delivering fast-track projects to exacting quality and brand standards.
• Confident chairing multi-disciplinary meetings and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Fluent with drawings/models and common CDEs; comfortable interrogating AutoCAD/Revit outputs.
• Thorough knowledge of Building Regs, CDM, fire, acoustic, sustainability and compliance pathways.
• Collaborative, decisive, and calm under pressure with excellent written and verbal communication.

Package

• £90,000–£100,000 base salary (DOE)
• Annual bonus + project-specific bonuses
• Plus a comprehensive benefits package

Apply / Enquiries

Send your CV or a brief profile to chris@kennarecruitment.co.uk (confidentially) with the subject “Senior Design Manager – Fit-Out”. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted swiftly.

Kenna Recruitment is an equal opportunities recruiter. All applications are handled in strict confidence.

If you are interested in applying for this job please press the Apply Button and follow the application process. Energy Jobline wishes you the very best of luck in your next career move.