Rider Levett Bucknall

Global construction and property consultancy services

Design Manager

Construction ManagementUpdated on Nov 13

Full-timeAmsterdam, NetherlandsNo salary listedHybrid

About the Job

Requirements

Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Design Coordinator in data centre, mission-critical, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing, or other highly technical sectors.
Strong mechanical, electrical, and plumbing understanding, particularly high- and low-voltage distribution, cooling technologies, redundancy strategies, and containment systems.
Experience working across multiple Royal Institute of British Architects stages or European equivalents such as HOAI or SIA.
Ability to interpret complex technical documents and coordinate large multidisciplinary teams.
Demonstrable experience managing design on fast-track or hyperscale data centre projects.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

Manage and coordinate design development across architectural, structural, civil, structural, and architectural (CSA), mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), fire, security, and information and communications technology (ICT) disciplines.
Lead design workshops, technical reviews, and cross-discipline coordination meetings.
Ensure design deliverables align with data centre standards, including Uptime Institute, ASHRAE, NFPA, EN standards, and client-specific requirements.
Drive consistency and accuracy across drawings, specifications, schedules, and building information modelling (BIM) models.
Develop and maintain design programmes, track deliverables, and identify risks early.
Ensure design outputs support buildability, commissioning, phasing, and critical programme milestones.
Oversee change control, design risk registers, and decision logs.
Lead value-engineering exercises while protecting safety, quality, and operational resilience.
Act as the primary point of contact for design queries across client, contractor, and consultant teams.
Support client governance processes by presenting design updates, risk summaries, and technical recommendations.
Facilitate alignment between global data centre standards and local regulatory requirements, including planning, building control, and fire certification.
Ensure compliance with local building regulations in the UK and EU member states.
Ensure compliance with mission-critical facility standards for cooling, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), generators, electrical redundancy, and containment.
Ensure compliance with safety-in-design principles and Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) responsibilities.
Review technical submittals, vendor designs, equipment selections, and interface matrices.
Manage document control processes, design trackers, and approved-for-construction packages.
Ensure integration of BIM workflows and correct data-exchange protocols.
Maintain clear and accurate project records for audit, commissioning, and handover.

Desired Qualifications

Professional membership (RIBA, CEng, MCIBSE, MICE, or CIOB) or working towards chartership.
Experience working across different European jurisdictions and regulatory systems.
Understanding of BIM Level 2+ processes and digital design collaboration platforms.
Knowledge of hyperscale client standards.

Why RLB?

At RLB, we live by four simple ideas: Truth, Trust, Together, Tomorrow. Four values that live at the heart of RLB. A place where People Make Progress.

We value your skills, talents and unique perspectives – we think they are priceless.

Bring them to RLB and you’ll be empowered to shape our future and your career in new and meaningful ways.

We’ll give you opportunities to work on some of the most ambitious and exciting projects currently being designed and developed in the built environment sector.

You’ll continue to learn and advance as everyone who works for us is provided with a tailored training programme. Our mentoring and reverse mentoring schemes will enable you to share your expertise while gaining fresh insights.

What makes RLB unique is our inclusive culture. As an independent, employee-owned business, teamwork and collaboration lies at the heart of everything we do. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies are just some of the ways we invest in employee wellbeing.

Join us and you will thrive personally as well as professionally.

Role Overview

The Design Manager will lead the coordination and delivery of multi‑disciplinary design activities for Data Centre projects across Europe. This role ensures that all design outputs meet client requirements, technical standards, programme milestones and regulatory obligations. You will act as a key interface between client stakeholders, designers, contractors and internal RLB teams across the full design lifecycle (from concept to commissioning).

Design Leadership & Coordination

Manage and coordinate design development across all disciplines (Architectural, Structural, CSA, MEP, Fire, Security, ICT).
Lead design workshops, technical reviews and cross-discipline coordination meetings.
Ensure design deliverables are aligned with Data Centre standards including Uptime Institute, ASHRAE, NFPA, EN standards and client‑specific requirements.
Drive consistency and accuracy across drawings, specifications, schedules and BIM models.

Programme, Quality & Risk Management

Develop and maintain design programmes, tracking deliverables and identifying risks early.
Ensure design outputs support buildability, commissioning, phasing, and critical programme milestones.
Oversee change control, design risk registers and decision logs.
Lead value-engineering exercises while protecting safety, quality and operational resilience.

Stakeholder & Client Interface

Act as primary point of contact for design queries across client, contractor and consultant teams.
Support client governance processes, presenting design updates, risk summaries and technical recommendations.
Facilitate alignment between global Data Centre standards and local regulatory requirements (planning, building control, fire certification, etc.).

Technical & Compliance Oversight
Ensure compliance with:

Local building regulations (UK, EU member states).
Mission‑critical facility standards (cooling, UPS, generators, electrical redundancy, containment).
Safety-in-design principles and CDM responsibilities.
Review technical submittals, vendor designs, equipment selections and interface matrices.
Information Management & Documentation
Manage document control processes, design trackers and approved-for-construction packages.
Ensure integration of BIM workflows and correct data exchange protocols.
Maintain clear and accurate project records for audit, commissioning and handover.

Experience

Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Design Coordinator in Data Centre, mission‑critical, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing or other highly technical sectors.
Strong MEP understanding, particularly HV/LV distribution, cooling technologies, redundancy strategies and containment systems.
Experience working across multiple RIBA stages (or European equivalents such as HOAI or SIA).
Ability to interpret complex technical documents and coordinate large multi‑disciplinary teams.
Demonstrable experience managing design on fast‑track or hyper‑scale Data Centre projects.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable

Professional membership (RIBA, CEng, MCIBSE, MICE, CIOB) or working towards chartership.
Experience working across different European jurisdictions and regulatory systems.
Understanding of BIM Level 2+ processes and digital design collaboration platforms.
Knowledge of hyperscale client standards

About the Company

Rider Levett Bucknall

Global construction and property consultancy services

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) provides independent construction and property consultancy services for built projects around the world. Its work spans feasibility, cost planning, project management, procurement advice, contract administration, and asset management, guiding clients from early ideas through delivery and operation. The firm combines specialists across markets to deliver unbiased advice, using market data and project controls to help optimize cost, schedule, risk, and quality. RLB differentiates itself by its 240+ year track record, global network of about 4,500 professionals, and its emphasis on truth, trust, collaboration, and responsible impact, underpinned by a commitment to independence and straight talk. The goal is to help clients deliver successful projects efficiently while making a positive contribution to communities and the planet.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 1969

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