Design Manager (Pre-Development)

Job Title: Deign Manager (Pre-Development)
Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 plus package
Location: Wakefield

The opportunity

A well-established residential developer is looking for a Pre-Development Design Manager to join its Technical team. You'll take charge of a portfolio of housing sites, steering each one from early feasibility through planning and technical design to a construction-ready position.

You'll work closely with the Land and Commercial teams, helping to shape how sites are appraised, designed and delivered. This is a hands-on role with real ownership, suited to someone who enjoys keeping several projects moving at once.

What you'll be doing

• Leading multiple residential sites at the same time, from initial site review and feasibility through to planning, technical design and pre-construction
• Reviewing architectural and engineering proposals, spotting constraints, risks and opportunities, and making sure designs are practical, buildable and in line with the wider development strategy
• Appointing and managing external architects, engineers, planning consultants and other advisers, holding them to deadlines and deliverables
• Overseeing the planning process alongside internal teams and consultants, tracking progress and conditions and addressing potential delays early
• Building and maintaining detailed pre-construction programmes, including milestones, dependencies and critical-path activities
• Keeping trackers, risk registers and action logs up to date, and reporting on progress, risks and decisions needed to senior management
• Supporting the Land team on new opportunities and acquisition decisions, and working with Commercial to keep design proposals in line with budgets, cost plans and appraisals

What we're looking for

• A background in residential development, housebuilding or a closely related sector
• A solid understanding of the planning process, including applications, policy and site constraints
• Good working knowledge of both architectural and engineering disciplines, with the ability to review and coordinate design information
• Proven experience managing several sites at once and producing and running pre-construction programmes
• Commercial awareness, including viability, cost implications, value engineering and how design decisions affect returns
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence challenging constructively
• A highly organised, detail-focused and proactive approach, comfortable in a fast-paced environment

Suitable backgrounds
Experience with a developer, housebuilder or a consultancy working with residential developers is ideal. Candidates from architectural, engineering, technical development management or residential pre-construction backgrounds will also be considered, provided they can show the planning knowledge, project management ability and broad technical understanding needed.

Calibre Search promote equality in the workplace and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified candidates regardless of their sex, race, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age. We act as both an employment agency and employment business.