Design Lead - Sports Surfaces

Our client is a globally recognised company specialising in sports surface development, environmental design, and technical solutions. With nearly a century of experience, the business has delivered some of the world's most high-profile sports and major infrastructure projects, working across elite sport, large-scale developments, and public-sector clients worldwide. Due to continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Design Lead to support and help deliver an expanding portfolio of global development projects.

The Role
The Design Lead will be responsible for leading the design and delivery of innovative sports surface and field-of-play infrastructure solutions across international projects. The role involves managing multidisciplinary design teams, coordinating technical outputs, and ensuring design excellence from concept through to construction.
You will work as part of a specialist development team alongside consultants, engineers, and designers, contributing to complex, high-profile projects for elite and institutional clients.

Key Responsibilities
Design Leadership & Coordination

• Lead the design process on major sports surface and infrastructure projects
• Manage design delivery across all RIBA stages (0-7)
• Maintain and communicate clear design intent throughout project lifecycles
• Coordinate internal technical disciplines and external consultants
• Review and approve drawings, specifications, and design documentation

Project Delivery & Management

• Manage design programmes in line with information delivery plans
• Support project managers with scopes, deliverables, and timelines
• Oversee design resources and mentor junior team members
• Provide technical input during tendering and construction phases

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary design interface with clients, architects, engineers, and contractors
• Present design solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Lead and facilitate design workshops and stakeholder meetings

Technical Excellence & Innovation

• Champion sustainable, performance-led, and data-driven design
• Drive innovation through new materials, systems, and monitoring technologies
• Ensure compliance with international sporting federation standards (e.g. FIFA, ITF, World Athletics)

Quality Assurance & Risk Management

• Identify and mitigate design risks
• Maintain QA/QC processes across all design outputs
• Contribute to continuous improvement and lessons-learned initiatives

Skills & Experience
Education & Qualifications

• Degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Sports Engineering, or a related discipline
• Professional accreditation (e.g. Chartered Engineer, Architect) desirable

Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in sports facilities, stadiums, landscape, or infrastructure design
• Proven experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams
• Experience working within BIM and federated design environments

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, and Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong understanding of sports surface systems, drainage, irrigation, lighting, and substructures
• Knowledge of international sporting standards and testing criteria
• Familiarity with Uniclass/Uniformat and specification writing