Design Manager

Design Manager

Location: Hybrid Working - UK (Office, Home & Site-Based)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Are you an experienced Design Manager with a background in petroleum retail, forecourt, fuel infrastructure or EV charging?
I am currently working with a leading organisation that is looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to lead the coordination, development and delivery of design solutions across a range of retail fuel, convenience retail, forecourt and EV infrastructure projects throughout the UK.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Design Manager to take a key role in a varied project portfolio, acting as the main design interface between clients, consultants, architects, engineers, contractors and specialist suppliers.
The role combines design management and coordination with regular site visits, project scoping, design reviews, cost assurance and stakeholder engagement.

The Role

As Design Manager, you will take responsibility for managing multidisciplinary design teams and ensuring projects are delivered in line with technical, commercial, regulatory and operational requirements.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing the design process across retail fuel, forecourt, convenience retail and EV charging projects
• Coordinating multidisciplinary design teams including architects, civil and structural engineers, planning consultants and specialist suppliers
• Managing design programmes, deliverables, design reviews, approvals and key project milestones
• Ensuring designs meet client requirements, operational needs, regulatory obligations and budget constraints
• Facilitating design review meetings and coordinating responses to technical queries
• Identifying design risks, constraints and opportunities throughout project development
• Acting as a key point of contact for clients and stakeholders throughout project delivery
• Presenting feasibility studies, concept designs and design options
• Providing technical guidance and recommendations to support client decision-making
• Building strong relationships with clients, consultants, architects, contractors and regulatory authorities
• Undertaking site visits and surveys to assess project feasibility and identify design constraints
• Reviewing existing site conditions, utilities, operational requirements and development opportunities
• Supporting the development of project scopes and design briefs
• Coordinating the design and implementation of EV charging infrastructure projects
• Working collaboratively with project controls, commercial teams, power teams and other design managers
• Coordinating design interfaces relating to grid connections, power availability, charger layouts, civil works and customer experience
• Supporting programme management to ensure the timely delivery of projects
• Reviewing design proposals against project budgets and commercial objectives
• Participating in cost assurance and value engineering exercises
• Ensuring designs balance operational performance, safety, constructability, sustainability and whole-life cost
• Maintaining compliance with relevant legislation, industry standards and client design requirements

About You

The successful candidate will have proven experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and delivering projects within one or more of the following sectors:

• Petroleum retail
• Forecourt development
• Fuel infrastructure
• Convenience retail
• EV charging infrastructure
• Energy or mobility infrastructure

You will ideally have:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Design Management or a related discipline
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary design teams
• Strong knowledge of UK planning, design and construction processes
• Experience coordinating external consultants and specialist subcontractors
• The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of project delivery principles
• A strong understanding of retail fuel station design and operational requirements
• Knowledge of forecourt layouts and customer circulation planning
• Experience with underground fuel infrastructure and associated design considerations
• Experience in EV charging infrastructure design and deployment
• Knowledge of utility and power connection processes
• Experience with design risk management and technical governance
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites across the UK

Desirable Experience

The following experience would be advantageous:

• Experience working with major fuel retail, mobility or energy clients
• Knowledge of alternative fuels infrastructure, including HVO, hydrogen or biofuels
• Experience supporting planning applications and stakeholder consultations
• Familiarity with cost planning, value engineering and commercial reviews
• Experience managing consultant frameworks and design supply chains
• Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, BIM Level 2 processes or Microsoft Project
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365

What's on Offer?

• Hybrid working with a combination of office, home and site-based work
• The opportunity to work on high-profile UK-wide retail fuel and EV infrastructure projects
• Exposure to the rapidly growing EV and future mobility sectors
• A varied and technically interesting project portfolio
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced multidisciplinary teams
• A client-facing role with significant stakeholder interaction
• Career development and opportunities for professional growth
• The chance to play a key role in delivering projects at the forefront of the UK's evolving energy and mobility infrastructure

If you're an experienced Design Manager with a background in petroleum retail, forecourts, fuel infrastructure or EV charging and are looking for your next challenge, I'd be keen to hear from you.
Apply now or contact me for a confidential discussion about the opportunity.

Aldwych Consulting values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.