Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design phases for major water infrastructure projects and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
- Company: Leading UK design-and-build contractor in the water sector with a strong focus on collaboration.
- Benefits: Very competitive salary, hybrid working, company car, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical water projects while enjoying excellent career progression.
- Qualifications: Extensive design management experience and a degree in an engineering-related discipline.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team committed to sustainability and innovative solutions.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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. 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.
Key Responsibilities
- 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
About You
Essential:
- 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
- Experience delivering large-scale infrastructure projects
- Broad technical understanding of water treatment, including process, civil, and MEICA disciplines
- Ability to present technical proposals clearly and confidently
Desirable:
- 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
What's On Offer
- 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.
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.
Design Manager - Water Sector in Watford employer: First Technical Recruitment
Contact Detail:
First Technical Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Manager - Water Sector in Watford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the water sector and let them know you're on the lookout for a Design Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and project management skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with multi-disciplinary design teams and how you've tackled challenges in past projects. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for sustainability and innovation in your conversations. Employers love candidates who are not only technically skilled but also care about reducing carbon footprints and improving processes in the water sector.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals like you to join our team and make a difference in the water industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Manager - Water Sector in Watford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Design Manager role in the water sector. Highlight your experience in multi-disciplinary design management and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you’ve led teams, managed budgets, or delivered projects on time and within budget. This helps us see the impact you've made in your previous roles.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the water sector and how your background makes you a perfect fit for our team. Keep it concise but engaging – we want to feel your enthusiasm!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Let’s get your journey started!
How to prepare for a job interview at First Technical Recruitment
✨Know Your Design Fundamentals
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of design management principles, especially in the water sector. Be ready to discuss your experience with multi-disciplinary teams and how you've successfully delivered projects on time and within budget.
✨Showcase Your Health & Safety Knowledge
Since health and safety is a key responsibility, prepare to talk about your understanding of CDM regulations and how you've implemented them in past projects. Bring examples of how you've identified and managed design hazards.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Be prepared to share specific instances where you've led design teams. Highlight your ability to motivate and coordinate team members to achieve project objectives, as well as how you handle conflicts or challenges within the team.
✨Engage with Technical Solutions
Expect questions about technical solutions you've developed in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you've optimised cost, quality, and programme delivery, and how you can contribute to sustainability objectives in future projects.
