Regional Design Lead in Maidstone

We are seeking two experienced Regional Design Leads (West and East) to take ownership of design leadership and delivery across a programme of water and wastewater projects. This role is critical in ensuring high-quality, compliant, and timely design solutions for regionally aligned clients and other agreed frameworks.

Contracted to 40hrs a week Monday – Friday, working from our MSN office (West) and Maidstone office (East).

At Bridges we are more than Engineers. We are listed on the Sunday Times Top 100 Places to Work 2024. As a team we shape and support engineering and construction for our clients who in turn touch the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. We have a large diverse team of talented Safe & Happy People, combining their strengths and ambition to bring innovation and evolution which ensures Sustainability for all stakeholders.

Across our key sectors – Water, Power, Energy and Aggregates, and supported through our regional office network, we deliver diverse and interesting projects and programmes throughout UK infrastructure. Our projects range in value from £5k to £15m, taking the role of Principal Contractor and Principal Designer on various schemes, and supporting our valued Tier 1 contractor clients in a subcontractor and off-site manufacturing capacity.

Role Overview

Design Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the design elements and deliverables from outline design through to final handover.
• Ensure deliverables are clearly defined, assigned, understood, and achieved to agreed programmes and quality standards.
• Monitor progress, proactively identifying risks, delays, opportunities, and potential cost or programme impacts.
• Coordinate, review, and drive RFI schedules to ensure timely availability of critical information.

Team Leadership & Resource Management

• Lead, develop, and grow a team of seconded engineers, designers, support staff, and subcontracted specialists.
• Ensure deliverables are agreed, assigned, and understood at all stages from outline design to final handover.
• Advise any potential opportunities, delays, risks, changes to programme or planned costs.
• Forecast design labour requirements, identify future skills gaps, and work with Design Managers to ensure appropriate resourcing and capacity.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and leadership across the regional design team.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a key interface between design, project management, planning, commercial teams, clients, suppliers, and external technical advisors.
• Attend and contribute to project meetings (online and in person) to represent the design and technical function.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Technical Assurance & Governance

• Play an active role in design assurance activities in line with the Bridges Way, including DRAs, ALMs, Buildability Reviews, and HAZOPs.
• Support wider technical and commercial reviews during both design and construction phases.
• Ensure alignment and coordination across disciplines through periodic reviews of deliverables.

Innovation, Compliance & Risk Management

• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and best practice across projects and designs.
• Identify and manage scope changes, ensuring compliance with change control processes and advising on contractual, cost, and programme implications.
• Identify Temporary Works requirements and ensure they are correctly communicated, managed, and controlled.
• Support the production of specifications and statements of need for plant, contract designs, and surveys, ensuring compliance with industry standards, legislation, and client requirements.
• Coordinate resolution of technical challenges, escalating risks and issues where required.

Supply Chain & Contractor Oversight

• Oversee and coordinate contracted designers, surveyors, and technical support providers.
• Review costs, programmes, deliverables, and specifications to ensure value, quality, and compliance.

Requirements

Essential

• Strong experience delivering design within water and wastewater or similar regulated infrastructure environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary design teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of design assurance, risk management, and change control processes.
• Proactive, collaborative, and solutions-focused approach.

Desirable

• Chartered or working towards chartership in Engineering (or equivalent), or relevant work experience.

Benefits

RoSPA Gold Medal winner, Bridges - is an excellent company to work for and a great place to develop your career. Our goal is to exceed the very highest standards and ensure our people work in a culture of health, safety and well-being. We are currently holders of the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, which reinforces our commitment to supporting the armed forces community. We are a family-run business with a friendly and welcoming culture, and we are dedicated to helping our employees learn, develop, and achieve success - along with us and throughout their careers.

Bridges also offers an excellent benefits package:

• Competitive salaries
• Company car/car allowance
• Health cash plan with Healthshield
• Standard Life Pension Scheme - 5% company contribution
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Bike 2 Work scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Employee referral scheme - £1,000 if you successfully introduce someone
• Employee recognition schemes
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay

When you join us, you’ll be part of our exciting journey. Wherever your journey begins with us, through mutual engagement, we’ll make sure you are supported and invested in. We believe in ‘team bridges’ and leadership at all levels with our guiding principles: Safe People, Happy People, Sustainable Business. Come and be part of our team! Bridges is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring equality and diversity within the workplace.