About Bowmer + Kirkland
Established in 1923,  Bowmer + Kirkland has grown to become one of the most successful privately-owned and family-run construction groups in the UK. Our Investors in People accreditation demonstrates our commitment to our staff and we are Partners of the Considerate Constructors Scheme – something which only a select number of high performing contractors achieve.

We are now looking to strengthen our team with the appointment of an experienced Design Manager, ideally with experience of MOJ projects, to lead the coordination and delivery of design on our project based at HMP Norwich.

About the role
As Design Manager, you will be responsible for managing the design intent through detailed interrogation, coordination, and leadership of the design process across the full project lifecycle. This includes ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act, CDM Regulations, statutory approvals, and B+K’s internal governance.

You will work collaboratively with clients, consultants, specialist subcontractors, and internal teams to ensure design excellence, programme certainty, and buildability—while embedding health and safety and digital innovation throughout.  You will play a key part in ensuring information flows smoothly between the B+K, subcontractors, consultants, and the client — contributing to the delivery of high-quality, well-coordinated projects.

This is a full time, permanent role, 40 hours over 5 days per week,

Duties of the role
The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership, a robust understanding of delivering in a main contracting environment, and the ability to work collaboratively with key project stakeholders. A relentless focus on safe delivery, programme certainty, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance are essential.


Key Responsibilities

• Lead the management of the design process across one or more projects.

• Coordinate the full design team including consultants and design-and-build subcontractors.

• Manage the design programme, RFIs, change control and document control processes.

• Ensure designs are compliant with Building Regulations, planning conditions, CDM, and other statutory requirements.

• Drive Safety in Design (SiD) and embed buildability and health & safety risk mitigation.

• Oversee BIM coordination, clash detection reviews, and digital model audits.

• Support tendering, value engineering and pre-construction activities.

• Maintain a high level of technical and commercial awareness in all design decision-making.

• Engage in client meetings and lead proactive design-based communication.

• Participate in lessons learned and best practice forums to enhance our delivery model.

• Mentor junior design team members and actively support CPD development.
  
  

Key skills and experience required

• Proven experience in a design management role, within a main contracting environment.

• Ideally candidates will have experience working on MoJ schemes, although experience in other sectors such as commercial or education also accepted. Experience of high value projects is also necessary.

• Strong technical design background with a degree (or equivalent) in a construction-related discipline.

• Solid understanding of current regulations (Building Safety Act, CDM, Building Regs, etc.).

• Experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing specialist subcontractors.

• Skilled in BIM processes and using platforms such as Viewpoint 4P.

• Proactive, organised, and a confident communicator.

• Capable of managing a range of project types, tight deadlines, and complex design scopes.
  

In return we offer:

• 25 days holiday per year, plus 8 bank holidays & Christmas Eve

• Entry into the Group Personal Pension Scheme

• Private Health Insurance (subject to a qualifying period)

• Enhanced family friendly policies (subject to qualifying period)

• Eye care voucher scheme

• Training & Development Opportunities
  
  

Bowmer + Kirkland is an equal opportunities employer.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you would like to be considered for this role please send applications to: recruitment@bandk.co.uk or by post to the HR Department, Bowmer + Kirkland Ltd, Heage, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 2BW.

We are a disability confident employer and actively encourage applicants who are covered under the equality act to apply.   Please contact the HR Department on 01773 853131 in advance of an interview to discuss any adjustments that are required in order to support you in the process.   

We are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and encourage applications from service leavers.