Design Manager(water)

A highly capable Design Manager is required to lead the end-to-end delivery of technical solutions across a variety of infrastructure projects. This includes clean water, wastewater and biosolids treatment, pumping stations, pipelines, and network upgrades. This role is accountable for ensuring designs are technically robust, compliant, commercially aligned, and delivered on time and within budget. The position involves managing design consultants and multi-disciplinary engineering teams while maintaining a strong focus on constructability, operability, and safety throughout the design lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership
  • Take full ownership of the technical integrity, compliance, and quality of design outputs throughout project lifecycles.
  • Ensure all solutions comply with relevant customer specifications, statutory requirements, and engineering standards.
  • Oversee the performance of design consultants, ensuring obligations under contract are fulfilled, and escalate where necessary.
  • Lead the development of practical, safe, and cost-effective asset designs that meet project objectives and operational needs.
  • Direct internal engineers and partner companies in the development of design deliverables.
• Project & Design Management
  • Manage design scopes, engineering budgets, and schedules for approval prior to submission to Project Managers.
  • Implement robust change control procedures to manage budget, schedule, and scope variations.
  • Ensure all design deliverables (drawings, calculations, specifications) are checked, verified, and aligned with Health & Safety legislation and quality systems.
  • Provide technical input into supply chain selection and manage specialist designer contributions.
  • Understand the role of temporary works in construction projects and manage their design in collaboration with appointed specialists.
• Collaboration & Governance
  • Collaborate closely with project managers, engineering leads, and operational teams to ensure the seamless integration of design with delivery.
  • Liaise with stakeholders including technical assurance, maintenance, and construction teams to ensure cohesive project outcomes.
  • Support and contribute to internal reviews, audits, and quality assurance processes.
  • Maintain and update design trackers and ensure transparent progress reporting against deadlines and KPIs.

Performance Objectives

• Deliver accurate internal and external forecasting.
• Effectively challenge and validate survey data, reports, and third-party designs.
• Proactively identify design risks and realise value engineering opportunities.
• Meet or exceed profit targets and reporting deadlines.
• Maintain and monitor high-quality design trackers and programme tools.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with stakeholders, clients, and the supply chain.

Key Relationships

• Regional, Engineering, Operations, and Contracts Managers.
• Site Agents and project delivery teams.
• Technical Assurance and HSEQ professionals.
• Clients, consultants, and strategic supply chain partners.
• Public and community stakeholders where relevant.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in design and design management roles.
• Proven expertise in potable water mains and foul water drainage systems.
• Strong understanding of BIM processes and Common Data Environments (CDEs).
• Degree or HNC in Civil Engineering (or related discipline).
• Membership (or working towards) of a recognised engineering institution (IEng/CEng).
• Excellent people management, time management, and communication skills.
• Results-oriented, self-driven, and commercially aware.

Desirable

• Experience working on major UK infrastructure or water sector programmes.
• Familiarity with asset delivery frameworks or regulated environments.
• Sound understanding of temporary works design principles.

Employment Details

• Employment Type: Permanent.
• Location: Portsmouth to Kent (Hampshire multiple locations).
• Hours of Work: Full Time (45 hours per week).