Design Manager (Highways)

6 month+ contract £500 to £575 per day IR35 TBC (likely outside) Hybrid; 1 day London, 1 day Norwich, remainder WFH Start: ASAP

My client, a leading UK highways and infrastructure contractor, is seeking an experienced Design Manager to support the delivery of a highways project in Norwich. This role is ideal for someone with strong highways and construction delivery experience who can lead multidisciplinary design activity and drive a Right First Time culture.

Role Purpose

The Design Manager will oversee all design activities across the project lifecycle, ensuring outputs are safe, buildable, compliant and acceptable for adoption by asset owners. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you will lead the detailed design process and work closely with construction, technical and stakeholder teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Detailed design leadership - Drive design delivery to required quality and deadlines.
• Compliance oversight - Ensure design aligns with approved information, planning constraints, technical standards and the Specification for Highway Works.
• Construction integration - Collaborate with the Construction Manager to ensure designs are safe, efficient and buildable.
• Principal Designer duties - Embed CDM compliance and safe construction principles throughout design.
• Technical leadership - Provide engineering guidance across all design disciplines.
• Design coordination - Align outputs from designers, subcontractors and contractor designed elements.
• Progress and risk management - Track deliverables, manage risks and implement mitigation measures.
• Reporting and analytics - Produce design progress metrics and dashboards to support EVM.
• Quality assurance - Promote a Right First Time approach to reduce rework and delays.
• Temporary works - Ensure temporary works are correctly designed, checked and implemented.
• Groundwater strategy - Support development of groundwater strategy and securing consents.
• Stakeholder engagement - Build strong relationships with client teams and authorities to secure timely approvals.
• Project collaboration - Work with the wider leadership team to support safe, efficient delivery and handover.
• Planning and procurement - Provide support where required.

Experience Requirements

Essential

• Strong experience in construction delivery, ideally including leadership roles such as Agent or Senior Agent.
• Extensive knowledge of highways design standards, design solutions and the Specification for Highway Works.
• Solid understanding of highways construction techniques and associated procedures.
• Experience working within Principal Designer and Principal Contractor environments.
• Knowledge of temporary works procedures.

Desirable

• Understanding of National Highways handover processes.
• Experience within local authority or Strategic Road Network environments.
• Experience securing and discharging environmental consents.
• Experience gaining design approvals and discharging planning conditions.
• Knowledge of pavement design and stabilisation.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Relevant CSCS card.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer status.
• SMSTS or equivalent.
• Temporary Works Coordinator qualification.

For more information, call Daniel Baker on (phone number removed) or apply via this advert.