Technical Manager - Architecture

At Sweet Project Construction Limited, (SPCL), we work with the data, defence, and energy sectors. We are a comprehensive design, construction and engineering provider, offering services spanning site acquisition, architecture, and refurbishment to client occupancy. In our world, there are no simple projects, only specialist needs and clever solutions.

We are a general contracting business, drawing on over forty years of specialised industry experience to provide excellent service, sustain long-term partnerships and achieve the highest quality outcome for key clients, whilst maintaining financial commitments.

You will lead the technical management of architectural design across projects, ensuring design solutions are safe, compliant, buildable and aligned with client, programme, cost and quality requirements.
The role provides discipline expertise from pre-construction through design, construction and handover, managing technical risk and coordinating internal and external design stakeholders.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership for architectural design and associated interfaces
• Review and challenge design information, specifications and technical submissions
• Resolve complex technical issues and maintain design intent throughout project delivery
• Provide guidance and mentoring to project and technical team members

Pre-Construction & Design

• Review employer’s requirements, tender information and design proposals
• Identify scope gaps, risks, opportunities and value-engineering options
• Support technical content for bids, contractor’s proposals and consultant appointments
• Coordinate design development, deliverables and responsibilities through the agreed design stages

Design Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure designs comply with legislation, Building Regulations, planning requirements, CDM requirements, project specifications and Company standards
• Lead design reviews, technical assurance and safety-in-design activity
• Maintain oversight of design change, RFIs, technical queries and concessions
• Ensure consultants and subcontractors provide competent resources and suitable design evidence
• Review relevant temporary works and design interfaces where these interact with architectural design requirements

Construction & Handover

• Provide technical support during construction, installation, inspection and handover
• Undertake site reviews and technical inspections to confirm compliance with approved design information
• Resolve design-related issues affecting quality, buildability, programme or cost
• Support design acceptance, as-built information and O&M documentation

Stakeholder & Commercial Coordination

• Coordinate with clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers and project teams
• Ensure technical decisions consider programme, cost, risk and contractual requirements
• Support procurement and commercial teams with scopes, technical reviews and tender assessments
• Communicate technical risks, decisions and required actions clearly

Continuous Improvement

• Capture and share technical lessons learned and good practice
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant standards, guidance and industry developments
• Support improvements to technical governance and quality assurance
• Promote consistent technical standards, quality assurance, digital tools and efficient design processes

Decision Authority

• Determine routine architectural technical approaches within approved project requirements
• Review and challenge architectural designs, specifications and supporting technical evidence
• Require correction or additional assurance where information is incomplete or non-compliant
• Recommend design changes, value-engineering options and risk mitigation measures
• Approve routine technical outputs within delegated authority and require specialist review where necessary
• Escalate significant safety, compliance, planning, commercial or delivery risks to the Head of Technical

Success Measures

• Architectural design information is accurate, coordinated and delivered
• to programme
• Architectural risks, interfaces and scope gaps are identified and managed early
• Design solutions comply with client, planning, statutory and Company requirements
• Technical queries, changes and assurance actions are resolved promptly
• Construction teams receive effective technical support and completed works reflect the approved design
• Handover information and lessons learned support project close-out and continuous improvement

The duties listed are not exhaustive and may be varied from time to time as dictated by the changing needs of the Company. The post holder will be expected to undertake other duties as appropriate and as requested by their manager.

The post holder may be required to work at any of the locations at which the business of Sweet Projects is conducted.

Experience required
• Significant experience managing architectural design within construction or engineering projects
• Strong technical knowledge of architectural design, building materials and systems, Building Regulations and planning requirements
• Experience managing design from pre-construction through construction and handover
• Experience reviewing consultant and subcontractor designs and technical submissions
• Experience applying relevant legislation, standards and design-and-build contract requirements
• Experience identifying technical risk, scope gaps and value-engineering opportunities
• Experience providing technical guidance and coordinating multidisciplinary stakeholders
• Experience in architectural detailing, material specification and construction packages
• Experience with planning applications and architectural statutory approvals

Qualifications
• Degree or equivalent qualification in architecture, architectural technology or a related discipline
• MCIAT, ARB registration or other relevant professional membership desirable

Training required
• Appropriate CSCS Card
• SMSTS
• CDM 2015 and safety in design
• RAMS and design risk management
• Building Regulations and Building Safety Act awareness
• BIM, CDE and digital design systems
• Relevant discipline software and technical standards
• Mental Health First Aid desirable

Sweet Projects is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that our success is built on the success of our employees. We are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment that helps our employees to achieve their personal and professional goals.

Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation.
We are an inclusive organisation and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including:

• Salary Banding: £75,000 - £85,000 per annum.
• Car Allowance (for eligible roles).
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Electric vehicle scheme.
• BUPA Healthcare and Cash Plan.
• Eyecare vouchers.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• 25 days Holiday plus Bank Holidays plus Birthday Day off.