Principle Design Lead

Specific Responsibilities
Provide leadership across multiple projects, supporting Senior Design Managers and Design Managers in delivering coordinated, compliant, and buildable design solutions.
Act as the escalation point for technical and design issues across all schemes, driving timely resolution and risk mitigation.
Lead and coordinate technical input into bids, including design appraisals, programme development, consultant strategies, risk identification, and value engineering opportunities.
Support the Head of Technical in ensuring consistency of design management practices, standards, and procedures across all projects.
Provide oversight of design programmes across multiple schemes, ensuring alignment with overall business and project objectives.
Where required, undertake full design management responsibility for a project, delivering in line with programme, budget, and compliance requirements.
Mentor and develop Senior Design Managers and Design Managers, providing guidance, coaching, and technical support.
Review and challenge design information to ensure compliance with legislation, company standards, planning approvals, and client requirements.
Support the implementation and adherence to Technical Operating Procedures across all schemes.
Coordinate with Commercial, Operations, and Bid teams to ensure design solutions are practical, cost-effective, and aligned with delivery strategies.
Review project-specific design scoping and procurement strategies for consultants and subcontractor designers.
Support the review and approval of consultant and subcontractor designer competency assessments.
Monitor consultant and subcontractor design performance across projects.
Ensure robust management of design change control processes across schemes.
Support and oversee the timely submission of planning, building control, and statutory approvals.
Promote best practice in design coordination, including fire safety, structural integrity, MEP integration, façade design, and maintenance strategies.
Chair or support key design coordination meetings, workshops, and reviews on complex or high-risk schemes.
Ensure effective communication of technical information across teams and departments.
Carry out site visits as required to support project teams and resolve technical issues.
Always comply with company policies, procedures, and health, safety, and environmental requirements.
What we need from you
Thrive within United Social Infrastructures values and culture of relentlessly striving to excellence through;
· Doing the right thing
· Raising the bar
· Positive attitude and energetic pace
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
· Integrity
· Ability to make things happen – starter/finisher
· Tact and the ability to deal with difficult situations
· Proactive
· Ability to challenge the norm and look for alternative solutions (positive deviance)
· Ability to work under pressure and multi task
· Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Passionate to achieve exceptional standards for business and personal gain
Criteria
Proven experience operating at a senior design management level across multiple residential or mixed-use projects
Strong leadership capability, with experience managing and mentoring Design Managers
Ability to operate across both strategic (multi-project oversight, bids) and project-level delivery
Extensive knowledge of design management processes across all project stages (bid, pre-construction, construction, handover)
Strong technical understanding of building design, coordination, and regulatory compliance
Experience leading or contributing significantly to bid-stage technical submissions
Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate technical and design risks across multiple schemes
Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability, particularly on complex or escalated issues
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels (internal teams, clients, consultants)
Ability to prioritise and manage competing demands across multiple projects
Up-to-date knowledge of construction legislation, including:Building Safety ActBuilding Regulations (including Dutyholder roles)HRB procedures and compliance requirements
Commercial awareness, with the ability to balance design quality and cost-effectiveness
Experience coordinating and reviewing consultant performance and outputs
High-rise residential experience
Strong organisational and reporting capability
Proven track record of successfully managing all aspects of the design and technical process in relation to residential buildings
Up to date relevant construction industry knowledge including legislation and procedures.
Valid driving licence
Knowledge of methodology and sequencing process in delivering a construction project including design and pre-construction activities
Strong written and verbal communication skills
High rise development experience
Understanding of the building safety legislative framework, including the Building Safety Act, Building Regulations (Dutyholder roles & competency requirements and the HRB Procedure Regulations.
Strong technical knowledge and skillset to assess, challenge and monitor design work compliance.
Experience in designer scoping
Ability to prioritise and manage competing demands across multiple projects
Up-to-date knowledge of construction legislation, including:Building Safety ActBuilding Regulations (including Dutyholder roles)HRB procedures and compliance requirements
Commercial awareness, with the ability to balance design quality and cost-effectiveness
Experience coordinating and reviewing consultant performance and outputs
High-rise residential experience
Strong organisational and reporting capability
Proven track record of successfully managing all aspects of the design and technical process in relation to residential buildings
Up to date relevant construction industry knowledge including legislation and procedures.
Valid driving licence
Knowledge of methodology and sequencing process in delivering a co