Company: Grõ Careers
Location: London
Posted: April 28th, 2026
Design Manager (Contract) – Design-Led Projects | Immediate Start | Outside IR35
You’re not here to sit behind drawings all day.
You’re the one people rely on when things need to move.
When the programme isn’t quite working.
When consultants aren’t aligned.
When decisions need to happen… clearly and without delay.
This role puts you right at the centre of that.
It’s Monday morning. You’re working alongside a leading architecture team on a high‑profile project.
The design is evolving quickly. The client wants clarity. The consultant team is expanding.
You’re the one bringing structure.
You’re building out the design programme… not just timelines, but how the design will develop.
You’re aligning architects, engineers and specialists.
You’re identifying risks early and keeping the team focused on what matters.
You’re leading design team meetings.
Tracking progress.
Clarifying responsibilities.
Keeping momentum across multiple moving parts.
By Friday, you’ve turned complexity into something clear and actionable.
The team knows where they stand.
The client has confidence.
The project is moving forward.
You will be working on some of the most design‑led, high‑profile projects in the industry… the kind that define their sector and set new benchmarks.
These aren’t everyday schemes. They are flagship projects you will genuinely be proud to have on your CV/folio, spanning (but not limited to):
The focus is on early‑stage design (RIBA Stages 0 to 3, with some Stage 4)… where strategy, structure and decision‑making are critical.
This isn’t about site delivery.
It’s about setting projects up properly from the outset.
This is a contract role (outside IR35) and requires someone who can step in and add value quickly.
You will likely come from one of the following:
What matters is your ability to demonstrate:
Experience contributing to or managing: