Project Design Lead

Our Water company client are seeking a Project Design Lead to oversee, direct, and provide technical input for a variety of environmental and compliance-driven studies on a permanent basis out of Falmer, Otterbourne or Chatham. In this role, you will lead multidisciplinary teams to ensure efficient, high-quality, and compliant project delivery while driving forward environmental improvements. As a Project Design Lead, you will make impactful decisions and provide recommendations that directly influence business planning and operational improvements. Candidates with a water resource, groundwater or scientific/ environmental background would be well suited to this role. Responsibilities Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards, including CDM regulations. Develop risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies. Lead the design process from feasibility to detailed design, ensuring on-time, high-quality deliverables. Manage design costs and resources, and drive standardisation and innovation across projects. Challenge existing standards, promote continuous improvement, and adopt best practices from the industry to drive efficiency and innovation, including the use of digital design tools. Deliver cost-effective solutions while working closely with project managers to track budgets and design costs. Ensure the lowest whole-life cost solutions are delivered, outperforming project budgets. Ensure design programmes are achievable and designs are delivered on time. Provide early warnings of any potential delays. Ensure designs meet customer and regulatory expectations, and represent the company at industry conferences. Skills/experience/qualifications Professional Membership: Member of an appropriate professional institute (Chartered or working towards). Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of H&S standards, water/wastewater regulations, and project/contract management. MEng/BEng/BSc or HND/HNC in Engineering, Environmental, or a related science field. APM Project Professional Qualification Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner Certification NEC for Project Managers Certification Benefits This role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week. Our client operates a hybrid approach to working between office and home. Salary circa £56,900 with some flex depending on experience Company and performance-related bonus Generous pension up to 11% company contribution 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) Life assurance equal to 4x salary Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service) Health Cash Plan – plus a host of other benefits