Design Manager - Water Sector

Overview: Design Manager – Water Sector – Location: Hampshire (Hybrid Working Available); Contract: Permanent; Salary: Very Competitive + Excellent Benefits.

We are currently working on behalf of a leading UK design-and-build contractor in the water sector to appoint an experienced Design Manager to strengthen their Engineering team. Based in Hampshire, this role offers hybrid working and the opportunity to play a key role in the delivery of major water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Reporting directly to the Regional Discipline Lead, you will lead projects through their design phases, ensuring technically compliant, cost-effective, and buildable solutions are delivered in line with programme expectations and stakeholder requirements.

• Champion Health & Safety excellence in design, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, specifications, and CDM regulations.
• Identify, manage, and communicate design H&S hazards and residual risks to all stakeholders.
• Lead, motivate, and coordinate multi-disciplinary design teams to meet project and customer objectives.
• Manage design budgets, resources, and outturn costs, delivering agreed outputs within allocated hours and key dates.
• Produce and maintain Design Management Plans and provide regular progress and status reports.
• Attend and contribute to programme, project, and technical meetings.
• Drive technical solutions that optimise cost, quality, and programme delivery.
• Provide technical support during construction, commissioning, and handover phases as required.
• Ensure all design work meets required standards, specifications, QA processes, and systems of work.
• Contribute to sustainability objectives, including reducing embodied and operational carbon.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams, partners, and clients.
• Act as a professional ambassador for the business in all client-facing activities.

• Extensive experience in multi-disciplinary design management within a design-and-build environment.
• Degree in an engineering-related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status.
• APM Project Fundamentals Qualification.
• Proven ability to lead teams to deliver projects to time, cost, and quality objectives.
• Strong working knowledge of CDM regulations and construction Health & Safety.
• Broad technical understanding of water treatment, including process, civil, and MEICA disciplines.
• Ability to present technical proposals clearly and confidently.
• APM Project Management Qualification (or working towards).
• Experience working within a global or multi-regional organisation.
• Experience managing remote or dispersed design teams.
• Background in the water or wastewater treatment industry.
• Knowledge of BIM processes and procedures.
• Collaborative, innovative, and solution-focused approach.

• Very competitive salary.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Company car or car allowance (role dependent).
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (with the option to buy additional leave).
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Life assurance.
• Health and private medical insurance.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee discounts and savings platform.
• Additional wellbeing and lifestyle benefits.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established organisation delivering critical UK water infrastructure projects, offering long-term stability, strong values, and genuine career progression.

For a confidential discussion or to apply, please submit your CV and one of our consultants will be in touch.

At First Recruitment Group we understand just how important it is to secure the right people. That is why our Recruitment Consultants always take the time to understand requirements in detail and offer sound advice to both clients and candidates. We actively recruit at all levels and this is a superb opportunity for Design Managers looking for new employment.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.