Design Manager; Fit ) TLNT_NI

Position: Design Manager (Fit Out) TLNT1_NI
Location: Antrim

Your new company HAYS is delighted to be partnering with a dynamic and progressive specialist joinery and interior fit-out contractor in the appointment of an experienced Design Manager. Based in Antrim, this is an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious business with an established reputation for excellence and innovation, taking responsibility for leading design teams across multiple projects. Operating within a highly specialist area of the construction industry, our client places design quality, buildability and technical innovation at the centre of project delivery.

The successful candidate will join a positive, inclusive and high-performing working environment where people are encouraged to take ownership, challenge established approaches and continually identify better ways of working. Your new role As Design Manager, you will lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of Design Co-ordinators, Technicians and other design professionals. You will foster a collaborative and innovative working environment, while providing clear leadership, guidance and mentorship to the colleagues reporting to you.

Working closely with operational teams and external stakeholders, you will develop a thorough understanding of project programmes, budgets and objectives. You will oversee the effective coordination of the design process from initial concept through to completion across multiple projects, ensuring that agreed programmes, performance measures and design deliverables are achieved. A key focus of the position will be ensuring that designs are buildable, repeatable and efficient.

You will encourage early engagement between the Design and Manufacturing teams, making certain that manufacturing feedback is embedded within design reviews and that information flows effectively between both functions. You will review and evaluate information provided by clients' architects and designers, programme the required design work and collaborate with production and project-delivery teams to establish realistic design programmes for each contract.

You will work alongside the project management team to develop and manage the design budget for each project, ensuring that proposed solutions remain within budget allowances. This will include monitoring and reporting on design expenditure, identifying cost-saving opportunities and maintaining design quality throughout the process. You will also work with the Head of Design to assess and adjust resource requirements in line with operational demands.

You will ensure consistency and quality across all design deliverables, confirming compliance with project requirements, agreed programmes, budgets, safety regulations and relevant industry standards. By reviewing design documents and drawings at the appropriate stages, you will help identify potential issues early, address technical challenges and encourage the development of innovative, practical solutions. You will additionally ensure that variations arising during the design process are properly documented, approved and incorporated into the project.

This role also offers an opportunity to influence the company's developing digital-design capabilities. You will take a proactive role in advancing its use of Inventor, Revit, BIM and other relevant technologies, while remaining informed about emerging industry trends, software and best practice that could enhance the design will support the estimating team during tender, post-tender and pre-award stages, providing advice on design programmes, buildability and wider technical matters.

Regular reporting to the Head of Design and clients will form part of your responsibilities, covering project milestones, budget performance and design progress. You will also…