Design Manager (Wastewater Infrastructure) in York

Do you want to be part of a growing Water Design team? Can you lead and inspire multidisciplinary design teams? Are you experienced in delivering wastewater infrastructure solutions within UK water frameworks? 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 Infrastructure) to join us. You’ll be overseeing the design and delivery of wastewater infrastructure projects aligned to AMP8 programmes, supporting water companies in improving network resilience, reducing storm overflows and enhancing environmental performance.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Managing and overseeing the design delivery of wastewater infrastructure projects across all AMP8 stages, from optioneering and concept design through to detailed design and construction support.
• Acting as Design Manager within collaborative delivery models (alliances and frameworks), coordinating multidisciplinary teams across civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA disciplines.
• Promoting best-for-project and TotEx-driven design strategies that align capital spending with ongoing operational performance for network assets.
• Directing the design of wastewater networks, covering gravity sewers, rising mains, pumping stations, CSOs, and stormwater management systems.
• Supporting storm overflow reduction and network resilience programmes, including storage solutions, SuDS, and nature-based interventions.
• Embedding digital engineering and BIM (ISO 19650) principles into design delivery, including use of common data environments and digital twins where applicable.
• Managing design programmes, resources, risks, and budgets to meet AMP8 delivery targets.
• Managing design risk assessments (HAZID, HAZOP) and ensuring safe-by-design principles in accordance with CDM Regulations.
• Collaborating with contractors, suppliers, and client teams to ensure designs are buildable, efficient, and aligned with delivery strategies.
• Supporting carbon reduction and sustainability objectives, including low-carbon materials, construction techniques, and whole-life optimisation.
• Contributing to bids, tenders, and framework opportunities within AMP8 and future investment cycles.
• Building and sustaining trusted client relationships as a reliable delivery partner.
• Mentoring and developing engineers and designers, building capability to meet AMP8 demands.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future. The first step to success in this role is that you are eager to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners, or customers. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. And you never get set in your ways but keep exploring new insights and ways to improve.

On top of that, you’ll have:

• A degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Achieved Chartered Engineer status (e.g. MICE or equivalent).
• Extensive experience in wastewater infrastructure design within UK water sector frameworks (AMP7/AMP8).
• Demonstrated experience in a Design Manager or senior design leadership role within collaborative environments (alliances, frameworks).
• Experience in the design of sewer networks, rising mains, CSOs, pumping stations, and stormwater management systems.
• Demonstrable experience delivering TotEx-driven solutions and understanding of Ofwat regulatory drivers.
• A solid understanding of hydraulic modelling and design tools (e.g. InfoWorks ICM, MicroDrainage, or equivalent).
• Experience working under NEC3/NEC4 contracts in a Design Manager or Designer’s PM capacity.
• Knowledge of digital engineering, BIM (ISO 19650), and common data environments.
• Thorough knowledge of health and safety in design (CDM Regulations) and how to apply safe-by-design principles.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and client-facing skills.
• Commercial awareness, including programme and cost control within design delivery.

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers. We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun.

With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 7,500 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

What we also offer:

• 28 days' holiday plus all UK bank and public holidays.
• Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities.
• Private health care, for you and your immediate dependents.
• Flexible and hybrid working conditions.
• Annual subscription fees paid for your membership of two Professional Institutions.
• Group personal pension scheme – salary exchange.
• Life assurance.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Corporate gym membership.

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.

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.