Design Manager in Havant

We are seeking a Design Manager to lead our multi‑disciplinary design team for water and wastewater projects across various frameworks. The role involves overseeing design planning, technical delivery, health and safety, stakeholder coordination and documentation to ensure high‑quality, cost‑effective solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Planning & Management:
  • Manage and develop the design team to ensure sufficient skill and resource capacity for non‑infra water projects.
  • Establish and manage department goals and objectives that support the company’s strategic plan.
  • Understand the interaction of all disciplines to ensure designs meet client briefs without negatively impacting other process streams.
  • Represent the business as Designated Individual for Principal Design under CDM Regulations and for Temporary Works under BS5975, including procedure management and subcontractor review.
  • Manage design resources, including internal teams, subcontractors, and specialist suppliers.
  • Liaise with client project teams to confirm designs for planning applications comply with statutory and client standards.
  • Organise and manage technical coordination workshops, package reviews and design team meetings, including HAZOP and ALM reviews.
• Technical & Operational Delivery:
  • Line‑manage the growing design team in accordance with company policy.
  • Act as process owner for design‑related activities and liaise with Technical, Operations, Project and Project Engineering managers.
  • Review alternative build methods and practices, keep up to date with new products, changing legislation, codes and client standards such as WIMES.
  • Ensure drawings, schedules and design information are produced on time, to high quality and are easy to decipher.
  • Oversee document control, registration and distribution of design and technical information, ensuring red‑lining at construction completion.
  • Assist the team in overall project management and costing preparations.
• Health, Safety & Environment:
  • Ensure design activities comply with health, safety, and environmental legislation and client requirements.
  • Manage design risks including live systems, process hazards, confined spaces and chemical dosing systems.
  • Promote safe systems of work and lead design‑specific safety briefings.
  • Translate conceptual schemes into efficient commercial solutions while maintaining world‑class safety standards.
• Stakeholder & Client Management:
  • Act as main contact for design with clients, operations teams and regulators.
  • Support operational training and familiarisation.
  • Manage design acceptance, sign‑off processes and review consultant/sub‑contractor drawings.
  • Constantly monitor production information and consultant activities against budgetary allowances, reporting any variances.
• Documentation & Handover:
  • Complete and approve design records, assessments and calculations.
  • Support preparation of O&M manuals, asset data and handover documentation.
  • Support practical completion, takeover and final acceptance.

Knowledge & Experience

• Significant experience in commissioning within the water or wastewater sector.
• Strong understanding of water treatment, wastewater treatment and network systems.
• Experience commissioning MEICA systems.
• Knowledge of water industry standards, procedures and safe systems of work.
• Experience working on live operational assets.

Desirable

• Experience delivering projects under regulated water frameworks (e.g. AMP programmes).
• Knowledge of UK water company standards and Ofwat regulatory requirements.
• 5+ years’ related experience post‑qualification in MEICA installation, testing and commissioning.
• Apprenticeship in relevant trade or equivalent experience.
• EUSR clean water card (preferable).
• Team‑working skills, supervisory ability, punctuality, reliability and a flexible “can‑do” attitude.
• Valid UK driving licence.
• Excellent health and safety knowledge and application.

Qualifications

• Degree or HNC/HND in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Process or related discipline) or equivalent experience (Essential).
• Professional engineering status (e.g. CEng, IEng) (Desirable).
• IOSH or NEBOSH health & safety qualification (Desirable).
• Confined Space and Permit to Work training (Desirable).

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and coordination skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving and decision‑making ability.
• Clear communication with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organisation and reporting skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple interfaces.

Health, Safety & Environmental Commitment

• Commitment to health, safety and environmental protection.
• Ensure commissioning activities meet company, client and regulatory requirements.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary TBC + car allowance.
• Medicash plan.
• Life insurance.
• Benefits portal.
• Company pension.
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays).

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to equal opportunities for all and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, sex, disability or age.