Head of Design - Dublin

Company Background:

Our client is a leading Irish Housebuilder who are at the forefront of providing innovative housing solutions in Ireland serving their growing customer base across Private, State, PRS (Private Rental Sector) and Commercial customers.

The company has key strategic sites together with a pipeline of current and future projects across the full customer base. The company is committed to build homes that have been thoughtfully designed, are sustainable and in the best locations.

Key Responsibilities:

Reporting directly to the Operations Director, this is unique opportunity to assist our client to effectively and efficiently reach company output objectives and contribute to the wider business strategy.

The Head of Design will have overall responsibility for the design function including:

Roles and Responsibilities Leadership

• Build on a culture of continuous improvement, underpinned by effective performance management and monitoring.
• Define, develop and implement a productivity management and improvement process that leads to a positive and measurable impact on project delivery and profitability across the business, including stakeholders and the supply chain.
• Foster an innovative and inclusive team-oriented work environment and play an active role in coaching and mentoring.
• Working with functional leads, establish policy and workflow processes and practices that enhance speed and efficiency without compromising product safety or integrity.
• Provide leadership and direct line management to construction planning team.
• Support and consistently instil a positive culture by promoting employee development, performance management, training and coaching.

Internal Relationship Development

• Work across projects and programmes to develop and manage project controls, risk and interdependencies across business activities.
• Partner with technical team leads to drive better ways of working, improve standardisation and efficiency, while maintaining and driving overall product value.
• Partner with business functions in deciding what and how is build, whilst ensuring brand development is not compromised.
• Partner with the Head of Customer to assist in the growth of customer relationships to enable the future development of the business.
• Support the technological advancements of the business, including BIM implementation.
• Key input into research & Development and reporting of same to Senior Business Leads.

External Engagement

• Establish strategic networks and partnerships that are of value to the company and work to maintain a positive reputation with supply chain partners, stakeholders and clients.
• Develop and maintain relationships with existing and new customers
• Act as the Key Relationship Manager:
  • Alongside the existing Senior Relationship Managers for the supply chain and potential new supply chain members.
  • For External Stakeholder and Statutory bodies (e.g. statutory bodies, clients)
  • For Design consultants

Personal Performance Accountability

• Undertake research, horizon scanning and intelligence gathering to establish a strong evidence base that informs and influences the development of product design, implementation and material selection.
• Overall responsibility for the design implementation and coordination process with internal and external stakeholders, up to construction stage.
• Partner with the Head of Technical to ensure best in class product delivery.

Landscaping

• Overall responsibility for landscaping function, including but not limited to design, implementation, biodiversity, ESG.
• Development of the company ESG agenda, and ensure compliance across all departments of same.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will need to have the required experience and expertise as follows:

• Demonstrated expertise and in-depth technical capabilities in the areas of Health & Safety, Building Control, Environmental and Quality Standards
• Degree / Higher Diploma qualification in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or equivalent; 10+ years post-qualification experience.
• Background in management of multiple large scale, residential or commercial construction in complex sites.
• Excellent working knowledge of latest building regulation and certification standards.
• Excellent track record of driving high performing teams.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• An ability to achieve demanding time and quality targets.
• To have good spoken and written communication skills.
• To be methodical, pay attention to detail and be accurate.
• To be good at working with people at all levels and willing to work in a team.
• Self-motivated with ability to work on own initiative.
• To be able to co-ordinate a number of different projects at the same time.
• To be willing to accept responsibility for completing designated tasks

Location:

The role is Dublin based

Remuneration

A compelling base salary and incentivisation scheme together with a comprehensive benefits package commensurate with the candidate’s experience and the level and challenge of the role will be offered.