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- Tasks: Lead and mentor a dynamic design team on exciting infrastructure projects.
- Company: Join a growing engineering consultancy that values your influence and ideas.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension, professional development, and 23 days annual leave.
- Other info: Based in Manchester with great transport links and access to a gym.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design while working on impactful projects in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in engineering design with strong leadership and technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing, mentoring and developing engineers, CAD technicians and graduates
- Building and growing the design team while maintaining a positive and collaborative team culture
- Leading the design process on multidisciplinary projects within regulated infrastructure sectors
- Ensuring design deliverables are safe, coordinated, compliant and technically robust
- Delivering design packages within agreed timescales and budgets
- Challenging and improving existing design processes and procedures
- Driving the adoption of appropriate design software, BIM and 3D modelling where beneficial
- Ensuring the team works in accordance with relevant standards, best practice and quality requirements
- Managing and recording design changes within project packages
- Supporting project teams with estimating design hours and resource planning
We’re looking for someone with the experience and confidence to lead a design team while maintaining a strong technical understanding of engineering delivery.
Essential
- Around 10+ years’ experience in engineering design, ideally within a regulated sector such as: Water, Rail, Highways, Bridges, Oil & Gas, Nuclear
- Degree or HND in an engineering discipline
- Strong IT and digital design capability
- Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and projects
- Proven ability to develop junior engineers and build team capability
Desirable
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
- Experience working within the regulated water industry
- Chartered Engineer status, or actively working towards chartership
Why ESL? We’re a growing engineering consultancy where people aren’t just a number. Our teams are small enough for individuals to have real influence, but experienced enough to deliver complex projects for major infrastructure clients. This is an opportunity to shape a team, influence how design is delivered, and play a key role in the continued growth of the business.
Location & Working Arrangements
Our team is ideally based from our Manchester office, and we encourage regular collaboration in person. Our office is located close to Old Trafford, with free on-site parking, good public transport links including bus and tram stops within a 10-minute walk, and a range of cafés, pubs, restaurants and shops nearby. Our building also offers free access to a fully equipped gym, with showers, changing facilities, hairdryers, towels and toiletries provided, making it easy to fit exercise around the working day. Working from home on occasion is permitted.
Benefits & Development
From the moment you join us, your wellbeing and career aspirations will be supported by:
- Competitive Salary
- Company Pension
- Professional Membership & Chartership mentoring and support for engineers working towards professional accreditation
- Regular Line Management engagement and appraisal to support with your career progression
- 23 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
- Additional annual leave after two years’ service
- Option to purchase additional annual leave
- Regular CPD opportunities, including lunch-and-learn sessions with industry specialists
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Free fruit in the office
- Monthly team brunches and quarterly social events
For contractors, we are also able to offer engagements outside IR35.
Design Manager in Manchester employer: ESL UK
Contact Detail:
ESL UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field, especially those who work in regulated sectors. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best design projects and experiences. This will give potential employers a clear idea of what you bring to the table, especially when it comes to leading teams and managing projects.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, particularly in managing multidisciplinary teams and improving design processes.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our growing team.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your 10+ years in engineering design and any relevant projects you've led, especially in regulated sectors like water or rail.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Design Manager role. Share specific examples of how you've managed teams and improved design processes in the past.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your strong IT and digital design capabilities. If you’ve worked with BIM or 3D modelling software, let us know how you’ve used these tools to enhance project outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESL UK
✨Know Your Design Fundamentals
Brush up on your engineering design principles, especially those relevant to regulated sectors like water or highways. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these principles in past projects and how they can benefit the team.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've managed and mentored teams in the past. Highlight specific instances where you developed junior engineers or improved team dynamics, as this role requires strong leadership and team-building capabilities.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Design Software
Make sure you're well-versed in the design software and tools mentioned in the job description, such as BIM and 3D modelling. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools to enhance design processes and deliverables.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Research the company's values and culture, especially their focus on collaboration and team influence. Think about how your personal values align with theirs and be ready to share how you can contribute to maintaining a positive team environment.