New Connection Designer in Leeds

Company description: Water Utility Company based in Yorkshire region of England.

We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £35,689 - £44,466 (band 4c).

Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year).

Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution).

Development opportunities in line with the New Connection Designer progression plan.

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus 2 extra wellness days!

Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.

A great benefits package choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.

Retail savings scheme, online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: This role will initially be based in Bradford but we are moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in September 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future - Hybrid Working (3 days office a week Bradford/Leeds).

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a New Connection Designer to join the Developer Services team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers.

What we do: Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Developer Services are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

This role fulfils the statutory duties of Principal Designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 across Developer Services and operational delivery activities. Responsible for ensuring health, safety and environmental risks are identified, eliminated or effectively controlled through the design phase of new connections works, the role provides oversight and coordination of design activities to ensure all designs produced by internal teams are safe, compliant and aligned with Yorkshire Water standards and regulatory requirements. Through effective design risk management, governance and stakeholder engagement, the role helps protect Yorkshire Water from safety, legal and commercial risks while supporting the efficient delivery of high-quality, compliant services across the network.

Where you fit in: As our New Connection Designer, you will:

• Fulfil the statutory duties of Principal Designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, planning, managing and monitoring the pre-construction phase of projects.
• Coordinate design activities across internal teams, surveyors and service partners to ensure risks are identified, eliminated or reduced so far as reasonably practicable.
• Ensure all designs comply with CDM requirements, Yorkshire Water standards and relevant health, safety and environmental legislation.
• Lead the development, maintenance and review of Design Risk Assessments and Hazard Registers, ensuring risks are effectively managed throughout the design process.
• Provide technical guidance, support and constructive challenge to case managers, promoting safe, compliant and buildable solutions.
• Ensure Pre-Construction Information (PCI) is complete, accurate and communicated effectively to all relevant stakeholders and delivery partners.
• Support the continuous improvement of design standards, governance frameworks and assurance processes, driving consistency and best practice across the business.
• Monitor and escalate significant safety, compliance or design risks where required, protecting Yorkshire Water from legal, operational and commercial risk while supporting the safe delivery of projects.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Strong understanding of CDM Regulations, design risk management principles and health, safety and environmental requirements within construction or utility environments.
• Experience working within construction, utilities, infrastructure or engineering environments, collaborating with contractors, designers and operational teams specific emphasis on the water industry is most desirable.
• Ability to review, interpret and constructively challenge engineering designs to ensure safe, compliant and buildable solutions.
• Formal Principal Designer knowledge, training or equivalent experience, with a sound understanding of statutory duties and responsibilities under CDM.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple design inputs and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge and collaborate effectively while demonstrating Yorkshire Water values and behaviours.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

If you’ve got experience as a New Connection Designer and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.

Closing date 18th August.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible. If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.