Senior Design Manager (Architecture)

Job Description

Shape the Process, Not the Design

If your passion lies in orchestrating complex architectural projects rather than pencilling their details, this role is calling your name. We’re partnering with a dynamic architectural studio that takes design management seriously - empowering a dedicated team of experts to steer the process while creative minds focus on the creativity. Now, they’re looking for an accomplished Senior / Associate Architect (7+ years in leading design practices) to elevate that client-facing process-management function.

Why Step into Design Management

• Strategic, Not Hands-On Design - You won’t be tinkering with the lines. Instead, you’ll be controlling the frameworks, schedules, and deliverables that drive major projects forward.
• High-Profile Global Projects - From the outset, plug into flagship schemes as the linchpin for communication, coordination, strategy, and accountability.
• Elevated Client Exposure - You’ll provide detailed project updates, outline potential risks, and highlight emerging opportunities, becoming the go-to authority for clients seeking real-time insights.
• Mentor and Guide - If you love sharing knowledge, you’ll have the platform to coach junior staff on best practices in delivering design - without getting lost in the design details.
• Professional Growth & Networking - Engage with leaders across various design fields, expand your professional networks, and stay on the cutting edge of industry trends - all while carving out a unique career path in design management.
• Expand Your Commercial Skills - Dive deep into contracts, schedules, scopes, and risk management. These are the insights that propel senior architects into top-tier leadership.

What a Senior Design Manager Looks Like Here

Your morning might kick off with a programme review - spotting potential schedule clashes before they escalate and clarifying next steps with consultants. Then, you’ll pivot to a progress meeting, orchestrating agendas, clarifying responsibilities, and documenting follow-ups so the design team can continue doing their creative best.

Midday, you could be on a call with a new client stakeholder, delivering a detailed update on project progress. You highlight potential opportunities and steer the conversation toward strategic decisions that keep everyone aligned and on schedule. By late afternoon, you check in with project leads, confirming that your tailored design programmes are effective and that each discipline understands its responsibilities.

One key difference from traditional architecture roles? You won’t be weighed down by production or drafting tasks, resulting in a better work/life balance - where extra hours are the exception rather than the norm. This is your chance to concentrate on proactive problem-solving, clear communication, and staying ahead of the curve through strong industry relationships rather than spending evenings redrawing details.

Key Traits of the Ideal Candidate

• Substantial Architectural Background - At least five years in a notable UK-based, design-led studio. Familiarity with large-scale or landmark projects (£250m-£1.5bn) is a major asset.
• Strategic Thinker - You see downstream effects long before they hit the drawing board, and you know how to keep the entire team a step ahead.
• Multi-Disciplinary Know-How - You’ve successfully delivered complex projects involving various consultants, proving you can coordinate diverse teams and keep them on track.
• Strategic Communicator - Able to deliver precise updates to clients, identifying risks and opportunities, and fostering clarity across all project stages.
• Programme Developer & Leader - You’re adept at shaping the design process, setting it up from day one, and monitoring timelines so every objective is met.
• Collaborative Mindset - You excel at establishing design procedures and protocols that unify teams, define roles, and maintain a high level of collaborative energy.
• Network Builder - You invest in building strong relationships with industry leaders, staying updated on emerging trends and bringing fresh perspectives to each project’s strategy.
• Confident Communicator - You can present, negotiate, and resolve conflicts, keeping both clients and design teams on track and at ease.
• Natural Mentor - You thrive on helping others succeed, especially when it comes to planning workloads and de-risking challenges.
• Contract-Savvy & Solutions-Oriented - You’re confident diving into appointments, clarifying scopes, and negotiating changes to keep the project firmly on track.

What You’ll Gain

• Competitive Package - Reflective of your leadership influence and responsibility.
• Leadership Visibility - Join a firm where senior-level input is recognised, valued, and career-defining.
• Client-Facing Authority - Be the go-to figure for strategic discussions and stakeholder coordination, shaping the path while the design evolves in other hands.
• Commercial Growth - Acquire the advanced project management skills - contracts, change control, reporting - that open doors to top leadership roles.

Ready to Drive the Design Process at the Highest Level?

If you’re looking to pivot from design-heavy tasks into a role where you enable some of the industry’s brightest design minds, send your CV to Reece at Grõ Careers.

This is your chance to bring your architectural background into a space where organisation, foresight, and leadership truly shine.

Important Note: Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you for understanding.