Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow the in-house Design Department for innovative utility solutions.
- Company: IES Utilities Group Ltd, a top UK utility provider focused on sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive team, career progression, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team committed to innovation and resilience in infrastructure.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the utilities sector with your design expertise.
- Qualifications: Chartered Engineer or working towards it, with experience in utilities design.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
IES Utilities Group Ltd is a leading UK utility provider delivering end-to-end utility solutions. Our teams operate across Power, Gas, Water, Telecoms, District Heating and Renewables, where we provide survey, design, construction, and maintenance services nationwide. With a commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability, IES supports clients in building and maintaining resilient, future-ready infrastructure networks across the UK. Headquartered in Manchester, IES continues to grow as a trusted partner in the utilities sector.
Our Vision: To be the leading utility and infrastructure services provider, known for innovative and sustainable solutions to current and future challenges.
Our Mission: To enable essential utility networks and infrastructure to achieve exceptional levels of resilience and long-term value.
Role Summary: To lead, build, grow, and manage the IES in-house Design Department, ensuring the safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of multi-disciplinary designs including temporary works designs for gas, water, wastewater, power, and telecoms infrastructure. Provide technical leadership, design governance, and client confidence in the company's end-to-end service offering.
Key Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Leadership: Establish the Design Department and define its scope, processes, and standards. Develop design capability roadmap aligned to business growth. Line management of multi-disciplinary design engineers and CAD team.
- Design Delivery: Oversee all design output (concept, FEED, detailed design, as-builts). Ensure compliance with industry standards (IGEM, BS/EN, DWI, NG/ENA specifications, CDM Regs). Chair design reviews, HAZOPs, and technical assurance meetings. Adopt the role of DI for Temporary Works and support the establishment, implementation and oversight of the company procedures for temporary works. Appoint competent individuals into Temporary Works Co-ordinator (TWC) and Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS) positions. Approve and sign off designs as the lead technical authority. Conduct regular design and temporary works design audits.
- Governance and Compliance: Act as Principal Designer under CDM where required. Maintain ISO 9001/19650 design management system. Ensure risk assessments and design risk registers are embedded.
- Commercial & Client Engagement: Support bids and tenders by scoping design solutions and estimating design effort. Engage with clients engineering teams to position the company as a trusted design & build provider. Manage subcontract design partners where additional expertise is needed.
- Pre-Construction Management: Support the pre-construction phase on major projects in terms of Design Co-ordination. Support the business in establishing and deploying effective pre-construction process and controls to ensure projects transition smoothly, safely and efficiently from the pre-construction to the construction phases. Build a functioning multi-discipline pre-construction Design Co-ordination team for the business as it grows.
- Resource Development: Recruit, mentor, and develop design engineers. Manage design budget and forecasting. Promote digital engineering/BIM adoption.
Essential Skills & Experience:
- Chartered Engineer (or working towards) in Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Process discipline.
- Proven track record in utilities/infrastructure design (gas, water, power).
- Experience delivering design within EPC or D&B project environments.
- Strong leadership, team management, and client-facing skills.
- Familiarity with design assurance processes for safety-critical assets.
- Strong grasp of standards, regulations, and utility / DNO requirements.
- Digital competency (AutoCAD, Revit, 3D modelling).
- Great communication and sales skills capable of developing strong relationships with internal and external customers.
- Strong commercial awareness in both delivering VFM propositions to customers and taking fiscal P&L responsibility for running Design Services.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary
- Supportive team environment
- Career Progression opportunities
- Pension
- Holiday allowance (25 days + Bank holidays)
- Other benefits
How to Apply: If you believe you have the skills and experience we are looking for, please submit your CV, including a brief covering note outlining your most relevant contract management or account management experience to recruitment@iesutilities.co.uk. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
Head of Design in Manchester employer: IES Utilities Group
Contact Detail:
IES Utilities Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the utilities and design sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best design projects. Make it visually appealing and easy to navigate. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching IES Utilities Group and their projects. Understand their mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets the company.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Design role. Highlight your experience in utilities and infrastructure design, and don’t forget to showcase your leadership skills. We want to see how you can lead our Design Department!
Craft a Compelling Cover Note: Your cover note is your chance to shine! Keep it brief but impactful, focusing on your most relevant experience in contract management or account management. We love seeing your personality come through, so let us know why you're excited about this role!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on your technical skills! Mention your familiarity with design assurance processes and any software like AutoCAD or Revit that you’ve used. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so show us what you’ve got!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at IES Utilities Group
✨Know Your Design Standards
Make sure you’re well-versed in the relevant industry standards like IGEM, BS/EN, and CDM regulations. Brush up on how these apply to your past projects, as you’ll want to demonstrate your technical knowledge and compliance during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led design teams or projects in the past. Highlight your experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams and how you’ve fostered collaboration and innovation within your previous roles.
✨Engage with Client Scenarios
Think about how you would approach client engagement and relationship building. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve positioned your team as a trusted partner, especially in the context of utilities and infrastructure projects.
✨Demonstrate Digital Competency
Familiarise yourself with the digital tools mentioned in the job description, like AutoCAD and Revit. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve used these tools in your previous work and how they can enhance design processes and project outcomes.