Job Description

Freelance Design Manager - Prison Construction Project

Location: Bath

Contract Type: Freelance / Contract

Duration: 6-12 Months

Rate: Competitive Day Rate (DOE)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Design Manager to join a major prison construction project based near Bath. This role offers the chance to work on a complex and high-profile scheme, managing the design process through key stages of delivery and ensuring the successful coordination of multidisciplinary design teams.

This position would suit a Design Manager with experience delivering large-scale public sector, custodial, healthcare, defence, infrastructure, or other technically complex construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage the design process throughout the project lifecycle.

Coordinate consultants, subcontractors, and project stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of design information.

Review design documentation for quality, compliance, buildability, and programme requirements.

Manage design deliverables and monitor progress against project milestones.

Identify and mitigate design-related risks and coordinate solutions to technical challenges.

Facilitate design workshops and coordination meetings.

Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, project specifications, and relevant regulations.

Support construction teams with technical design queries and change management processes.

Requirements

Proven experience working as a Design Manager on major construction projects.

Strong understanding of design coordination, project delivery, and construction processes.

Experience managing multidisciplinary consultant teams.

Ability to work collaboratively with site, commercial, and client teams.

Excellent communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.

Experience on secure, public sector, healthcare, defence, custodial, or similarly complex projects would be advantageous.

What's on Offer

Freelance contract for an initial 6-12 month period.

Opportunity to contribute to a significant and nationally important construction project.

Long-term project pipeline with potential for extension.

Competitive day rate based on experience.

Site-based role near Bath with immediate or short-notice starts considered.If you have a strong background in design management and are looking for your next freelance opportunity on a major project, we would like to hear from you. Please submit your CV along with details of your availability and relevant project experience