Design Manager - Construction - Motherwell

About the role

Job Title : Design Manager

Location: Maxim Park in Eurocentral, Motherwell (Hybrid with occasional travel to Peterhead & Aberdeen). Will be frequent travel to the North East of Scotland from 2027.

Project Type: Substation / Energy Build

Company: Balfour Beatty Group

About Us:

Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure and construction group. We finance, develop, build, and maintain innovative and efficient projects that underpin daily life, supports communities, and enables economic growth. Our unparalleled expertise and resources ensure that we deliver high-quality projects safely, on time, and within budget.

Help shape Scotland’s energy future. Join Balfour Beatty’s Energy Workstream as a Design Manager and play a key role in delivering major infrastructure projects with real impact.

Why this role?

We’re looking for a proactive and technically sharp Design Manager to join our Regional Scotland team at the exciting Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) stage of a major energy infrastructure build. Based primarily out of Maxim / Eurocentral, you’ll travel periodically to Peterhead and Aberdeen, with more regular visits to North East Scotland expected from 2027 as construction ramps up.

This is a unique opportunity to influence design from the ground up—literally—and drive innovation, collaboration and sustainability into every aspect of the build.

What you'll be doing

As a Design Manager you will have the following responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the design process across building and energy-related projects (Civil, Structural, Architectural).
• Collaborate with internal teams and external designers to develop cost-effective, buildable, safe and environmentally responsible design solutions.
• Drive programme-level design deliverables, gate reviews, and BIM coordination.
• Provide input into work-winning strategies and technical bid submissions.
• Ensure statutory approvals (planning, building control, utilities) are secured efficiently.
• Champion Zero Harm, Safety in Design, and Lean practices throughout the design lifecycle.
• Contribute to sustainability and innovation targets while ensuring buildability and operational

Who we're looking for

What You Need

• Experience managing design in a consultancy and/or contractor environment—ideally on complex or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership in matrix teams, with the ability to guide internal and external design stakeholders.
• Technical understanding of site-based construction and BIM practices.
• A collaborative mindset and clear communication skills with customers, JV partners, and supply chain.
• Professional membership (e.g., ICE, CIOB, RIBA) and CSCS card (or ability to obtain).
• Excellent IT skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office, design codes, and digital tools.

Why Join Us?

• A role at the heart of Scotland’s green energy transition.
• Support from a collaborative, experienced team across design, project management, and delivery.
• Career development and learning pathways across Balfour Beatty’s UK-wide network.
• Flexible working approach to balance site, office, and remote needs.
• The chance to directly influence the future build across the NE of Scotland.

Professional and personal development

The size and scale of Balfour Beatty coupled with our strong pipeline of work provides incredible opportunities, regardless of what stage you are at in your career.

We encourage and empower our employees to take control of their career and explore which part of the business they want to work in and what role is right for them. We actively encourage our managers and employees to have open communication throughout the year about wellbeing, development and career opportunities.

We're proud of the Balfour Beatty Academy. Whether it’s sharpening your technical expertise, improving your personal skills or seeking support to become professionally qualified, our 70:20:10* approach to development means we have a learning approach that suits everyone.

*70% learning on the job, 20% learning from those around you, and 10% formal training courses and learning events.

For further information about Balfour Beatty Regional Scotland please go to www.balfourbeatty.com/careers/Scotland – You can also check out further job opportunities in the careers section

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

– Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
– 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
– Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
– Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

From Dunfermline’s tramways in 1909 to highland hospitals today, Balfour Beatty has been trusted for over a century to deliver the complex and critical infrastructure and iconic buildings Scotland relies on.

We have the people, knowledge and experience to safely deliver projects right first time, maximising value for money and ensuring a positive social impact and inclusive economic growth for local communities.

Our award-winning sustainable projects, including active travel, Passivhaus and retrofit, demonstrate our commitment to supporting Scotland’s transition towards net zero in the built environment.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: candidaterecruitmentqueries@balfourbeatty.com