Design & Construction Director

Director, Design & Construction (UK Development)

Tishman Speyer creates vibrant destinations and dynamic environments that inspire innovation and connected communities.  As a diversified developer, operator, and investment manager of top-tier real estate in 33 markets across the globe, our business choices are driven by the belief that real estate should unlock human potential. Tishman Speyer’s diversified portfolio spans market rate and affordable residential communities, premier office properties and retail spaces, industrial facilities, and mixed-use campuses. We create state-of-the-art life science centers through our Breakthrough Properties joint venture, and foster innovation through our strategic proptech investments. By combining global perspective with local expertise, and a personalized approach, we are able to anticipate our customers’ evolving needs. We were the first real estate company to introduce asset-wide amenity services through our ZO platform, and the first traditional real estate company to create its own flexible space and coworking brand, Studio. 

Since our founding in 1978, Tishman Speyer has acquired, developed, and operated 576 properties, totaling 233 million square feet, with a combined value of over $131 billion (U.S.). Tishman Speyer currently has approximately $65 billion in assets under management, including iconic properties such as New York City's Rockefeller Center, São Paulo's Torre Norte, The Springs in Shanghai, Paris Bourse in Paris and Frankfurt’s OpernTurm and TaunusTurm.

Summary of the Position:

 This is a fantastic opportunity to support the Senior Director – Design & Construction during a period of growth for the UK development platform. The role will be central to assessing and delivering new and existing opportunities across the UK, mainly focused on office with exposure to residential and logistics sectors, combining commercial judgement and a keen interest in bringing buildings to life through design quality, placemaking, operational readiness and customer experience.

 The Director - Design & Construction will act as a senior member of the UK development team, supporting projects from early feasibility and acquisition through design, planning, procurement, delivery, handover and activation. The role is responsible for driving cost, quality and programme outcomes while maximising long-term asset performance and converting complex development issues into clear recommendations for senior decision-making and investment approvals

Key Responsibilities:

 Pre-development and development strategy

• Manage production of project briefs, feasibility studies, development appraisals, budgets, programmes and approval papers, including recommendations on capital expenditure and out-turn performance.

• Select, appoint and manage the external project team, ensuring consultants produce coordinated design, cost, procurement and technical documentation to the required standard.

Project delivery, procurement and JCT contract management

• Lead the design, planning, procurement and construction process from concept to completion, with accountability for agreed cost, quality, programme and risk objectives.

• Apply excellent working knowledge of JCT forms, procurement routes, risk allocation, change control, extensions of time, loss and expense, payment mechanisms, practical completion and defects obligations.

• Lead or support procurement strategy, tendering, bid analysis, negotiation, contractor appointment and key third-party agreements required to implement projects.

• Monitor cost plans, cashflows, valuations, contractor applications, variations, change orders, contingency, risk registers and programme reporting and coordination with funder requirements.

• Drive value engineering, buildability reviews and construction methodology without compromising design quality, compliance, sustainability, customer experience or long-term asset value.

Planning, sustainability and stakeholder management

• Manage planning, statutory and stakeholder consultation with appropriate external advisers to secure consents and approvals.

• Incorporate sustainability opportunities, low-carbon approaches, operational efficiency and emerging construction technologies into design and delivery in line with business plan objectives.

• Maintain strong working relationships with architects, engineers, contractors, planning consultants, local authorities, funders, partners, occupiers, tenants and internal teams.

• Prepare concise reports and recommendations for senior leadership, including key risks, mitigations, decision requirements and budget/programme variances.

Post-completion, leasing and building activation

• Coordinate pre-let, occupier and operational requirements through planning, construction, fit-out and handover.

• Support leasing, investment and legal colleagues on documentation, technical inputs and due diligence for letting, sale or partnership activity.

• Manage fit-out coordination, tenant/customer interface and aftercare to ensure completed buildings are successfully leased, operated, experienced and activated.

• Bring a customer-focused and hospitality-minded approach to workplaces, homes and logistics assets that are commercially successful and operationally robust.

Skills & Qualifications:

• UK development experience: Proven experience delivering UK development and major refurbishment projects, ideally across office, residential and/or logistics, with strong knowledge of the London/UK marketplace and the full development process from conception to post-completion.

• Commercial acumen: Strong understanding of development appraisals, budgets, procurement strategy, financial controls, risk allocation, asset performance and value creation; able to produce and present well-structured approval papers.

• JCT and procurement expertise: Excellent working knowledge of JCT forms of contract and the practical administration of UK construction contracts, with confidence managing consultants, contractors and external suppliers.

• Technical leadership: Strong design, construction, programme and quality management capability, including base build, major refurbishment, fit-out interfaces, project controls and site delivery.

• Professional background: Undergraduate or graduate degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, project management, real estate or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience; typically 8-10+ years of relevant experience.

• Communication and ownership: Self-motivated, proactive and highly organised, with strong influencing skills, concise written and verbal communication, and the ability to work independently while leading external teams effectively.

• Systems and flexibility: Strong Microsoft Office skills; willingness to work on site and travel as required by project needs.

Core Competencies

• Commercial judgement and accountability
• Development appraisal and reporting
• Design and construction leadership
• JCT contract and procurement expertise
• Clear communication and concise reporting
• Ability to prioritise across multiple workstreams
• Collaborative stakeholder management
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ownership during a period of growth
• Passion for placemaking, customer experience and bringing buildings to life!

Tishman Speyer is deeply committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce which promotes different views and perspectives. We expect our leaders and employees alike to champion diversity and inclusion practices. Tishman Speyer has several employee affinity and interest groups that provide employees opportunities to develop professional relationships across the business and identify opportunities for development and advancement.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and treat all applicants for employment equally based upon job-related qualifications and without regards to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, disability, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.

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