Design Manager

Role Overview

The Design Manager will provide technical leadership across the design and delivery of multiple water and wastewater projects. The role includes managing permanent and subcontract design personnel, coordinating workloads and ensuring water-sector designs meet project requirements, client specifications and company procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of multidisciplinary design solutions for water and wastewater projects, from initial concept through to implementation.
• Manage workloads, resources, priorities and progress across the water design team.
• Ensure water infrastructure designs comply with quality, environmental, health and safety, and technical standards.
• Identify design risks or deficiencies and implement practical, cost-effective solutions.
• Manage design changes and ensure relevant notifications are issued to Project Managers and water-sector clients.
• Coordinate water design activities with engineering, manufacturing, construction and project management teams.
• Resolve technical issues between designers, reviewers and document originators.
• Manage multidisciplinary water engineering teams in line with agreed budgets and programmes.
• Act as a key technical contact for water clients, managing expectations and maintaining strong relationships.
• Support water-sector tenders, estimates and preconstruction activities.
• Mentor team members, conduct appraisals and identify training requirements.
• Report on water design progress, risks and performance to senior management.

Person Specification

• Degree, HND or HNC in Engineering, or an equivalent qualification.
• Proven experience in a senior engineering or design management position, ideally within the water sector.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary water design teams and multiple projects.
• Good knowledge of water project development, design, construction and commissioning.
• Understanding of civil, mechanical and electrical disciplines within the water sector.
• Knowledge of clean water, wastewater and water treatment processes.
• Experience in water-sector preconstruction design, estimating and cost planning.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and deliver water projects within agreed deadlines.
• Good understanding of Environmental, Quality and Health and Safety requirements.
• Relevant qualifications such as CSCS, DOMS, National Water Hygiene, Confined Space or IOSH would be advantageous.