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- Tasks: Lead and manage design delivery for a major substation project.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking team focused on critical national infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the UK's energy resilience and low-carbon future.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in civils & geotechnical design; degree in relevant engineering discipline.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with a focus on innovation and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: Margam, South Wales (Site-based)
Help Shape the Future of Critical National Infrastructure
We are delivering a major substation scheme in Bridgend – a project central to strengthening the UK's energy resilience and enabling a low-carbon future. To help us achieve this, we are looking for an experienced Design Manager with a background in Civils & Geotechnical design to play a pivotal role in leading, coordinating and assuring design delivery.
If you thrive in complex, multidisciplinary environments and enjoy bringing clarity, technical rigour and collaborative leadership to design, this is an opportunity to grow your impact on a project of national importance.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead, coordinate, and manage design delivery from concept through to handover.
- Ensure all design information is complete, compliant, buildable, safe and aligned to contractual, technical and programme requirements.
- Oversee design reviews, manage queries and ensure robust technical governance and change control.
- Work closely with internal specialists, external designers and supply chain partners to produce high-quality, coordinated solutions.
- Support construction teams on-site with technical clarity, design assurance and timely resolution of queries.
- Drive continuous improvement, adopt innovative practices, and champion digital tools and sustainable design approaches.
What You'll Bring
Essential experience:
- 5+ years in a design-led role within civils & geotechnical engineering.
- Experience managing design across the project lifecycle – concept to handover.
- Strong understanding of design compliance, buildability, technical assurance and risk management.
- Comfortable working with multidisciplinary teams and designer supply chains.
- Familiarity with various procurement routes.
Qualifications (recommended):
- Degree in an Engineering or Architectural discipline (Civil, Structural, Geo, Mechanical, Electrical, Architectural, Facades).
- Chartered or working towards chartership (ICE, IStructE, RIBA, CIAT etc.).
Our Ideal Candidate
You will enjoy this role if you:
- Are naturally collaborative and thrive in environments where design, construction and operations intersect.
- Have strong problem-solving skills and can bring structure and clarity to complex design challenges.
- Are proactive, adaptable and able to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced delivery environment.
- Are passionate about quality, safety, innovation and continuous improvement.
- Enjoy empowering others, sharing expertise and helping teams succeed.
Why Join Us?
- Work on a major UK infrastructure project that will make a real difference.
- Join a design and technical community focused on excellence, innovation and professional growth.
- Opportunities for career development through chartership support, mentoring and internal progression.
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, experiences and identities. If you require adjustments during the recruitment process, we will work with you to ensure you have the support you need.
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you are an experienced Design Manager looking to shape the next generation of infrastructure, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and help us deliver something extraordinary.
Design Manager - Civils & Geo - Substations in Bridgend employer: Laing O'Rourke
Contact Detail:
Laing O'Rourke Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Manager - Civils & Geo - Substations in Bridgend
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. 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 researching the company and understanding their projects, especially those related to civils and geotechnical design. Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs and demonstrate your passion for infrastructure.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills during interviews. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in past projects and how you overcame them. This will illustrate your ability to thrive in complex environments, just like the ones you'll encounter in this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to exciting projects like the Bridgend Substation.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Manager - Civils & Geo - Substations in Bridgend
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your background in civils and geotechnical design, and don’t forget to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Design Manager role. Mention your collaborative approach and how you thrive in multidisciplinary environments.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've tackled complex design challenges in the past. We want to see your proactive attitude and how you bring clarity to tricky situations!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape the future of critical national infrastructure!
How to prepare for a job interview at Laing O'Rourke
✨Know Your Design Fundamentals
Brush up on your civils and geotechnical design principles. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects, especially in managing design from concept to handover. This will show your technical rigour and understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Prepare examples that highlight your experience working with multidisciplinary teams. Discuss how you’ve led design reviews or resolved queries with construction teams, as this role requires strong collaboration and communication skills.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Think of specific challenges you've faced in previous projects and how you overcame them. Be ready to explain your thought process and the steps you took to bring clarity and structure to complex design issues.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Share your experiences with adopting innovative practices or digital tools in your design work. Highlight any initiatives you've led that contributed to quality, safety, or sustainability, as this aligns with the company's commitment to excellence.
