Head of Design, Birmingham

Title: Head of Design

Location: Birmingham

Full-Time / Hybrid

An established design and build contractor is expanding its presence across the Midlands and is looking to appoint a senior design leader to support the continued growth of its building services and low-carbon project portfolio.

Operating across a range of commercial and public-sector environments, the business delivers multidisciplinary projects focused on energy efficiency, refurbishment, and modernisation works. Schemes typically involve mechanical and electrical upgrades, renewable technologies, heating system replacements, plantroom improvements, and wider building services enhancements.

Due to sustained project demand and long-term growth plans, the company is now looking to strengthen its regional leadership team with the appointment of an experienced Head of Design.

The Opportunity

This is a critical leadership appointment and a genuine opportunity to shape and build a regional design team from the ground up.

Reporting into the Design Director / Associate Director, the Head of Design will lead multidisciplinary building services design activity across the Birmingham region, supporting the delivery of complex decarbonisation and energy projects from concept through to installation.

The successful candidate will bring strong technical building services expertise alongside proven experience leading, mentoring, and growing high-performing engineering teams.

This role is suited to someone already operating at Head of Design level or an equivalent senior leadership role, who can quickly establish themselves, drive standards, and build capability across the function.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary MEP/building services design teams across regional projects
• Oversee the technical delivery of decarbonisation and low-carbon retrofit schemes
• Support projects through the full lifecycle from concept design through installation and delivery
• Build and grow the Birmingham design function, including recruitment and team development
• Mentor and support engineers across graduate, junior, senior, and principal levels
• Work collaboratively with operations, commercial, and delivery teams to ensure successful project outcomes
• Maintain high technical and quality standards across all design output
• Support client engagement activities, presentations, and stakeholder meetings
• Contribute to strategic planning and regional growth initiatives
• Help establish processes, standards, and best practices within the regional design team

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• Significant experience within building services / MEP design environments
• Strong technical knowledge across mechanical and electrical building services
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering/design teams
• Background within a contractor or design-and-build environment
• Experience delivering commercial or public-sector building projects
• Strong understanding of design through to installation and delivery
• Excellent communication and client-facing presentation skills
• Ability to mentor, develop, and grow engineering teams
• Collaborative, hands-on leadership approach

Desirable

• Existing network of mechanical/electrical engineers or industry contacts
• Experience scaling or establishing regional design functions
• Exposure to healthcare, education, or public-sector projects
• Chartered status or working towards chartership

Sounds interesting? Apply directly for a confidential chat.