Design Manager - Architectural & Facades - Defence

✨ Design Manager – Architectural & Façades
📍 Location: Primarily based in Dartford, with occasional travel to Surrey and London

About the Project

Are you excited by the idea of shaping modern, secure, and high-quality facilities across multiple sites? This is a major defence infrastructure programme delivering operational-ready environments for the UK Armed Forces. The project combines design excellence, complex compliance, and innovative construction methods.

Could your expertise help create world-class facilities for defence infrastructure?

Role Overview

We're looking for a Design Manager – Architectural & Façades to join our team. In this role, you'll coordinate and deliver high-quality architectural and façade design, ensuring solutions are practical, buildable, compliant, and aligned with programme, safety, and maintenance requirements.

Do you enjoy leading design from concept to completion and making real-world impact?

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage architectural and façade design across all project stages.
• Oversee the production, control, and distribution of design documentation, drawings, and specifications.
• Manage stakeholders, including clients, consultants, contractors, and internal teams, ensuring clear communication and timely resolution of issues.
• Support collaborative design reviews and manage technical queries.
• Optimise design solutions for aesthetics, buildability, programme efficiency, and operational performance.
• Apply lessons learned and drive continuous improvement and innovation in design practices.

Are you passionate about solving complex design challenges while collaborating with diverse teams?

Candidate Profile

We're looking for someone with:

• A degree in Architecture, Architectural Technology, or equivalent construction-related qualification.
• Chartered membership of a professional body (preferred).
• 5+ years' experience managing architectural and façade design on complex projects.
• Experience in high-compliance or technically complex sectors such as defence, justice, healthcare, refurbishment, education, commercial, residential, or aviation.
• Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and communication skills.

Do you thrive in environments where precision, innovation, and collaboration are key?

Why Join Us?

At Laing O'Rourke, we push the boundaries of construction. Innovation, technical excellence, and sustainability are at the heart of everything we do. We create buildings and infrastructure that make a lasting positive impact on communities and the environment.

We also take care of our people! Our competitive package includes:

• Base salary + car/travel allowance
• Access to PMI
• Enhanced pension and parental leave schemes
• Life, dental, and critical illness insurance
• Income protection
• 33 days' holiday (including bank holidays!)
• Professional development opportunities

Are you ready to join a team where your skills will shape world-class projects?

CVs only tell part of the story – let's have a chat! I'm Gabbie Bristow, Resourcing Advisor, and I would love to hear from you: gbristow@laingorourke.com.

We're committed to inclusive recruitment. If you need the application in an alternative format or have questions about our process, contact the resourcing team: resourcingteam@laingorourke.com.

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