Job Title: Workplace Design Standards Manager (Contract)
Location: Any major UK hub outside London. Preferred hubs include Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow or Newcastle
Contract Length: Until 31 March 2025 (potential extension)
Rate: Up to £500 per day (inside IR35, via umbrella)
Security Clearance: BPSS
Onsite Requirement: 3 days per week

The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced workplace design professional to take on a strategic, high-impact role ensuring design excellence across a large portfolio of workplace and customer-facing spaces. This is not a hands-on design role. Instead, you will be the driving force behind design assurance, compliance and innovation for hundreds of concurrent projects.

What You'll Be Doing

Overseeing design assurance across up to 300 simultaneous projects

Developing, implementing and evolving workplace design and technical property standards

Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and accessibility requirements (for example, BS8300)

Advising on sustainable, inclusive and efficient workspace solutions

Providing strategic input across all RIBA stages

Conducting post-occupancy evaluations and promoting continuous improvement

Collaborating closely with internal teams, senior stakeholders and external contractors

Assessing the costs, logistics and practicalities of office design proposals

What We're Looking For

Proven experience in architecture or interior design, ideally in commercial or retail sectors

Strong knowledge of workplace design for large, complex estates

Solid understanding of inclusive design and accessibility

Confident in engaging and influencing senior stakeholders and presenting to large audiences

Skilled in writing, reviewing and evolving design standards

Good understanding of UK Building Regulations and RIBA processes

Desirable

Degree or Master's in Architecture or Interior Design

RIBA membership (or working towards)

Project management qualifications such as PRINCE2 or APM

Experience in large estates such as healthcare or education

Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to shape the design quality of workspaces across a major national portfolio. You will work in a role with visibility at senior levels, a diverse set of projects and the chance to influence design outcomes that directly affect thousands of users. If you thrive on variety, enjoy working strategically and can balance design vision with practical delivery, this contract offers both challenge and reward