Senior Design Manager in Ilkeston

• Senior Design Manager | Water & Wastewater
• Glasgow Hybrid Salary Negotiable

Ceto Talent is partnering with a leading engineering business to recruit a Senior Design Manager to drive excellence across its UK design function.

This is a strategic leadership role offering the opportunity to shape design management standards, mentor high‑performing teams and lead the successful delivery of major water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

You’ll combine business‑wide influence with hands‑on project leadership, helping to establish best practice while delivering complex multidisciplinary engineering solutions.

• What you’ll be doing
• Driving consistency in design management practices, reporting and governance across the UK.
• Developing and implementing design performance frameworks, including KPIs, Earned Value Analysis (EVA), design change management and resource planning.
• Mentoring and supporting Design Managers across the business, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Acting as Design Manager on key projects, leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through the full project lifecycle.
• Ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.
• Embedding CDM compliance and health & safety principles throughout the design process.
• Collaborating with senior stakeholders to align design delivery with business objectives and client expectations.
• Supporting recruitment, resource planning and the ongoing development of the design function.
• Championing innovation, knowledge sharing and professional development across the business.
• We’re looking for someone with
• 10+ years’ experience in design management, ideally within the UK water or wastewater sector.
• A proven track record leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and managing complex infrastructure projects.
• Experience implementing design governance, performance frameworks and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of CDM Regulations and the integration of health and safety into design.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A degree in Engineering, Design Management or a related discipline, with Chartered status (or working towards it).

Desirable

• Master’s degree in Engineering or Design Management.
• Project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or PMP.
• Knowledge of BIM and digital design tools.
• Experience delivering sustainable and innovative engineering solutions.
• What’s on offer
• A senior leadership role with genuine influence across a growing UK engineering business.
• The opportunity to shape design management standards and mentor the next generation of design leaders.
• Work on nationally significant water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Hybrid working based from Glasgow.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

If you’re an experienced Design Manager ready to influence strategy while continuing to deliver complex engineering projects, we’d love to hear from you.

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