Design Manager - Expansion DCO

This role sits at the centre of Heathrow’s expansion and plays a pivotal part in shaping, coordinating, and securing endorsement of the design that underpins the Development Consent Order (DCO) for what will become the largest infrastructure programme in Europe. As a Design Manager within the Expansion programme, you will help lead the development of integrated, high‑quality design solutions that demonstrate to regulators, stakeholders, and decision‑makers that Heathrow’s expansion is safe, deliverable, sustainable, and ready for construction.

Your work will directly support the progression of the DCO application, ensuring proposed designs are coherent, technically robust, and fully coordinated across disciplines within one of the world’s most complex operational environments. This is a role for design professionals who want to shape major infrastructure, not simply manage drawings or schedules. You will act as a trusted integrator and leader, bringing together multiple design packages, suppliers, and disciplines to form a clear and compelling vision for Heathrow’s future.

Working within a dynamic and ambitious Design & Engineering team, you will translate strategic objectives into practical design outputs that balance operational needs, constructability, safety, sustainability, and long‑term value. This once‑in‑a‑generation programme offers the opportunity to develop as a design leader, gain exposure to industry‑leading partners, and contribute to a nationally significant project that will influence how major infrastructure is planned and delivered for decades to come.

There’s something special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights, sounds, and constant air of excitement create a backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities. Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and end the day buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities, and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.

It brings out the best in all of us and inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability. Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards: We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

Working Location: Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow. Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You’ll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

Sustainable Travel to work: Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities: As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.

Our Heathrow Expansion programme: offers a unique and exciting opportunity to play a defining role in one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects. You’ll help shape a national legacy that millions will experience for decades to come, as we deliver the third runway, improve passenger experience, stimulate jobs and opportunities across the UK, and strengthen the global connectivity that powers trade and travel.

Modernising and expanding the UK’s only hub airport and critical national infrastructure whilst keeping it fully operational and safe creates a pace and complexity unlike other major programmes. It demands collaboration, resilience, problem solving and a desire to take on challenges that genuinely matter.

From securing planning consents to designing a new runway, modernising terminals and improving public transport access, and delivering on environmental and community commitments - the scale is unmatched. You’ll be part of a diverse team of talented colleagues, built on mutual respect and where excellence thrives. It’s an inspiring place to work, with unlimited opportunities to make a difference as you help to shape the future of our world-class airport.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support Senior Design Managers in delivering their responsibilities and managing design and engineering contracts, including contract administration.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee the production of design and engineering outputs to ensure alignment with programme objectives and project requirements.
• Manage progress and performance, providing required reporting and ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and addressed throughout the gateway lifecycle.
• Support optioneering and integrated solution development, including stakeholder reviews, approvals, and alignment across disciplines.
• Lead or support the production of documentation for the DCO, early works, and wider programme activities while ensuring quality, safety, inclusive design, and sustainable outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by capturing best practice and supporting team capability development and succession planning.

Qualifications:

• Previous relevant experience in the management of multidisciplinary design and engineering suppliers.
• Experience of delivering successful outcomes in a complex project or programme environment.
• Adaptability to continuous improvement and change management.
• Degree qualified in appropriate discipline.
• Ideally, you will also have experience of working at Heathrow or comparable airport environment.
• NEC accreditation and experience in professional services contract service manager role.
• Development Consent Order experience.

Full time

Posting Date: 2026-08-10