Design Manager (Contract) – Design-Led Projects | Immediate Start | Outside IR35 | £220 to £325 per day

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.

What your week actually looks like…

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.

By midweek, you’re deep in coordination.

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.

The projects...

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):

• Cultural & civic landmarks
• Education & research institutions
• Major transport & infrastructure hubs
• Large-scale masterplanning & mixed-use developments

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.

What they’re looking for…

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:

• Architect / Project Architect with strong project / coordination experience
• Design Manager already working within a consultancy or client-side role

What matters is your ability to demonstrate:

Early-stage experience

• Strong exposure across RIBA Stages 0 to 3
• Feasibility, briefing, and concept coordination

Programme awareness / ownership

• Experience building or managing design programmes
• Understanding sequencing and design workflows

Coordination & team alignment

• Working with multidisciplinary consultant teams
• Keeping stakeholders aligned and accountable

Structured approach

Experience contributing to or managing:

• Design programmes
• Risk registers
• Responsibility matrices
• Progress tracking / reporting

Stakeholder confidence

• Comfortable engaging with clients and consultants
• Able to guide conversations and maintain clarity

What will make you stand out

• You bring structure to complex situations
• You’re proactive and solutions-focused
• You naturally take ownership of coordination and communication
• You enjoy being at the centre of how projects come together

The set-up

• Contract role (initial 3 to 6 months, with potential to extend)
• Outside IR35
• Day rate typically ranging from £220 to £325 per day (depending on experience)
• Hybrid working (central London + design team environments)
• Immediate / short notice availability preferred

Why people move into this kind of role

Because they realise…

It’s not just about the design itself…

It’s about how teams come together to deliver it.

If this sounds like you, apply with your CV ASAP as these roles will not be available for long!