Senior Design Manager
Job Description
Senior Design Manager - Data Centre Projects (UK)\n\nLocation: London / Manchester - Needed to be in the office 3 days a week.\n\nA leading global consultancy with a strong, future‑focused presence in the data‑centre sector is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to support the delivery of major UK data‑centre programmes. This organisation provides end‑to‑end support across the full data‑centre lifecycle - including strategic advisory, feasibility, engineering, environmental approvals, cybersecurity and construction-phase integration - underpinned by multidisciplinary technical depth. \nWith the UK experiencing rapid growth in data‑centre development driven by AI adoption, cloud expansion and increasing power‑supply pressures, this is a pivotal opportunity to shape large‑scale, next‑ digital infrastructure.
\n\nThe Role\n\nThe Senior Design Manager will lead multi‑disciplinary teams to deliver technically robust and coordinated designs for hyperscale, enterprise and colocation data‑centre projects. This role covers full design-cycle oversight, including scoping, technical assurance, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement and interface management from concept through to construction support. \nResponsibilities include:\n\nManaging all design stages across architecture, MEP, environmental, digital systems and technical advisory streams.\nEnsuring integrated solutions across energy management, water systems, sustainability and operational resilience - key challenges in modern data‑centre development.
\nWorking closely with clients to shape briefs, project origination, commercial definition and feasibility alignment.\nSteering compliance with both UK and international standards, ensuring design quality and project readiness.\nSupporting modular and prefabricated design approaches to accelerate programme delivery and improve energy efficiency. \nCoordinating planning submissions, permitting activities and interface with environmental and grid stakeholders.\n\nCandidate Profile\n\nThe ideal candidate will bring:\n\nExtensive design-management experience in mission‑critical or technically complex infrastructure, preferably including data centres.\nStrong multidisciplinary coordination skills, with the ability to integrate engineering, architecture, digital and environmental inputs.\nAwareness of emerging UK market drivers such as power‑grid constraints, increased AI‑related energy use, net‑zero policies and the surge in new facility construction.\nA proactive, solutions‑focused approach to navigating regulatory, environmental and technical challenges.\nExcellent communication and client‑management skills.\nDegree-level qualifications in engineering, architecture or a related discipline; chartership desirable.\n\nWhat's on Offer\n\nThis is a rare opportunity to join a consultancy with a major strategic focus on future‑ready data‑centre development. Their teams are known for innovation, integrated delivery, regulatory leadership and an emphasis on sustainable, resilient and efficient infrastructure.
\nYou'll play a central role in shaping critical digital infrastructure at a time of unprecedented sector growth and transformation in the UK