Senior Design Manager (Remote)

The Role

Fortem Solutions are currently recruiting for a Senior Design Manager to join our Bidding team team on a permanent, full time contract. This will be a field-based role, however our head office is based in Hitchin, so you’ll be expected to travel there for meetings.

The main purpose of the role is to be integral to the bidding team and process, to have the knowledge and ability to lead the technical design function throughout the RIBA Work stages, from bidding stage, pre-construction and during the construction stage. To ensure that all designs are produced in compliance with relevant legislation, the main contract and in time for other designs, procurement and construction to proceed as planned.

The role requires good understanding and knowledge of the Building Regulations/Building Safety Act/Planning process/RIBA Stages and other relevant legislation, together with knowledge relating to sustainable and de-carbonisation methods.

The Company

Fortem Solutions are a nationwide business specialising in the Social Housing sector. We provide Repairs & Maintenance, Retrofit, Capital Works and Decarbonisation workstreams within Local Authorities and Housing Associations.

Duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, you will:

• Act as point of contact for design issues.
• Establishment and compliance of design management / information protocols using Fortem Process and Procedure; Common Data Environment (CDE) i.e. Viewpoint.
• Review designers scopes of services, and novation agreements, against projects, ECI or PSCA agreements
• Ensure individual staff from consultants / specialists / CPD sub-contractor designers are competent to undertake the roles required and follow the Fortem competency framework
• Assist estimating / commercial with a technical review of specialist design (CDP) subcontractor tender ensuring design teams are consulted for compliance, qualifications, alternative specifications and opportunities. Also ensuring design teams integrate into their designs for a fully coordinated scheme.
• Liaison with the operational teams regarding buildability and logistics and input into design that might be affected by methodology related site activities or Temporary works coordination / implementation.
• Establish and obtain fee quotes / commission any required surveys / tests / reports.

What you will need

Essential criteria:

• Experience working for Social housing Landlords and sustainability/retrofit projects through funding such as ECO4, Cladding Safety Scheme.
• An understanding of Retrofit project specifications and requirements and understanding Building Pathology – impacts of retrofitting on an existing built form.
• A demonstrable history of work on complex projects and what impacts the candidate had on these in regard to design control.
• Knowledge of contractual requirements of design and build contracts (Employers Requirements and preparation of Contractors Proposals) with Two Stage, PCSA contracts
• Knowledge of design process and resourcing requirements.
• Ability to plan and integrate the design process into the procurement and construction programme for the Works.
• Ability to plan, prepare and present complex technical issues in an appropriate manner to internal (ie/Governance) and external parties.
• Knowledge of design requirements for procurement and construction purposes.
• Technical understanding of substructures, structures, M&E services and finishes solutions
• Up to date knowledge of Building Regulations / Building Safety Act / Planning Process / Sustainability.
• Up to date construction industry knowledge.
• Must have a relevant qualification and working towards a chartership.

Desirable:

• A bachelor’s degree (Hons) in a relevant field such as Architecture, Building Surveying, Construction Management, or Architectural Technology.
• Chartered memberships: Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) demonstrating a high level of commitment and expertise.

Benefits

• Annual bonus up to 10% of basic salary
• 29 days annual leave & your birthday off
• Pay review every year
• 26 weeks full pay maternity leave
• 8 weeks full pay paternity leave
• £1,000 towards home electric car set up
• Discounted gym memberships at national and local gyms
• Up to £3,000 colleague referral fee
• Vast directory of training on bespoke in-house Learning Management System
• Other benefits including Private pension, Life Insurance, dental care, private healthcare, cycle-to-work scheme, mobile phone provider discounts & more

Who we are

We are part of the Willmott Dixon group, established in 2002 Fortem provides specialist property solutions tailored to keep homes and buildings running smoothly. Our highly trained teams deliver a range of internal and external repairs as well as high quality voids, planned installations and gas services.

Alongside our core functions, we have extensive experience in decarbonisation, specialising in making homes more energy-efficient and helping clients on their journey to become zero carbon.

Our experience, commitment to best practice and exemplary quality, together with a genuine partnered approach, ensures we achieve excellent outcomes for our partners, clients and customers. We have an established track record of improving communities and creating better places for people to work and live.

We are Investors in People – Gold, we believe in equality, diversity and respect for all and encourage applications from all sectors of the community.