Design Manager (Water Non-Infra) United Kingdom Derby Application Deadline 29 May 2026

Permanent Office/Home Hybrid Working

Do you want to be part of a growing Water Design team? Can you lead and inspire multidisciplinary design teams? Are you experienced in wastewater treatment design and delivery? Then, read on. This could be the next adventure in your career.

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow

To further expand our Water team, we are looking for a Design Manager (Wastewater Non‑Infrastructure) to join us. You’ll be responsible for the design and delivery of wastewater treatment and non‑infrastructure projects, including treatment works upgrades, process optimisation, sludge treatment, pumping stations, and associated MEICA and civil assets.

Responsibilities

• Managing and delivering the design of wastewater non‑infrastructure projects across all AMP8 stages, from optioneering and outline design through to detailed design and commissioning support
• Acting as Design Manager within collaborative delivery models (e.g. alliances and frameworks), ensuring integration across process, civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA disciplines
• Ensuring best‑for‑project and TotEx‑led design solutions, balancing capital and operational expenditure
• Managing wastewater process design integration, including treatment performance, resilience, and compliance with tightening regulatory standards (e.g. nutrient removal, storm overflow reduction)
• Embedding digital engineering and BIM (ISO 19650) principles into design delivery, supporting data‑driven decision making
• Managing design programmes, resources, risks, and budgets to meet AMP8 delivery milestones
• Overseeing design risk management activities (HAZID, HAZOP, ALM) and embedding safe‑by‑design principles to comply with CDM Regulations
• Collaborating with contractors, suppliers, and client teams to deliver integrated and buildable solutions
• Supporting carbon reduction and sustainability objectives, including low‑carbon design and circular economy principles
• Contributing to bids, tenders, and framework growth within AMP8 and beyond
• Building and sustaining trusted client relationships as a reliable delivery partner
• Mentoring and developing engineers and designers, supporting capability growth aligned to AMP8 demand

Qualifications

• Degree‑qualified in Civil, Mechanical or Process Engineering (or a related discipline)
• Achieved Chartered Engineer status (e.g. MICE, MCIWEM, IChemE or equivalent), or working towards chartership
• Extensive experience in wastewater non‑infrastructure design within UK water sector frameworks (AMP7/AMP8)
• Established experience serving as a Design Manager or senior design leader in cooperative delivery structures such as alliances and frameworks
• Demonstrable experience delivering TotEx‑driven solutions and understanding of Ofwat regulatory drivers
• In‑depth knowledge of wastewater treatment processes (e.g. activated sludge, SBR, MBR, sludge treatment, tertiary processes, nutrient removal)
• Experience working under NEC3/NEC4 contracts in a Design Manager or Designer’s PM capacity
• Thorough understanding of digital engineering, BIM (ISO 19650), and the use of common data environments
• Knowledge of sustainability, carbon reduction, and environmental compliance within water projects
• Demonstrated leadership, stakeholder engagement, and client‑facing skills
• Commercial awareness, including programme and cost control within design delivery

Benefits

• 28 days' holiday plus all UK bank and public holidays
• Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities
• Flexible and hybrid working conditions
• Annual subscription fees paid for your membership of two Professional Institutions
• Group personal pension scheme – salary exchange
• Life assurance

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, we partner with the wisecampaign.org.uk to recruit for a better gender balance in our teams. Equal opportunity employer. COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.