Design Manager – Construction Projects

About the role

Bowmer + Kirkland is seeking experienced Design Managers to lead the design coordination and delivery for education projects across the South West. Based in our Bristol office, you will work on sites in Somerset and Dorset, ensuring design intent is maintained from pre‑construction through to live sites.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design process for one or more projects, overseeing consultants and design‑and‑build subcontractors.
• Manage design programmes, RFIs, change control and document control.
• Ensure compliance with Building Regulations, planning conditions, CDM Regulations and the Building Safety Act.
• Drive Safety in Design (SiD) and embed buildability and health‑and‑safety risk mitigation.
• Oversee BIM coordination, clash detection reviews and digital model audits.
• Support tendering, value engineering and pre‑construction activities.

Required profile

• Proven leadership in a main‑contracting environment.
• Strong collaborative skills with clients, consultants, subcontractors and internal teams.
• Relentless focus on safe delivery, programme certainty, stakeholder engagement and quality assurance.

Required skills

• BIM coordination
• Clash detection
• Digital model audits
• Knowledge of Building Regulations
• Understanding of CDM Regulations
• Familiarity with the Building Safety Act

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working model (office and site)
• Opportunity to work on £15‑50 m education projects
• Supportive, award‑winning construction environment