Highways Design Manager - Principal / Associate Engineer in Southampton

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

About the business unit: We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy.

Overview of the role: We are looking for a Design Manager with a track record of contributing to the successful delivery of complex multi‑disciplinary major infrastructure and highways projects. You will be involved in delivering complex projects for our clients that align to our purpose of creating positive social outcomes through delivery excellence. Your primary role will be as a senior leader for major road projects, with a key focus on Design and Build (D&B) schemes across the UK, but on occasion internationally. You will also play a key role in client engagement and initiating bids to secure future major project opportunities that will deliver our growth targets whilst delivering the aims of our clients and their customers.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Develop trusted relationships with our key and new contractor partners and their customers, such as National Highways, Local Authorities.
• Lead acquisition and delivery of profitable projects in line with agreed strategies.
• Supporting the Project Director and Project Managers through leadership and strong governance.
• Deliver to budget, programme and quality in all cases.
• Develop a collaborative contractor lead culture and delivery approach across project teams supply chain and partners.
• Enhance client satisfaction.
• Undertake project reviews to foster learning and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to major project bids securing our right to win, delivering customer needs and a viable commercial strategy.
• Work in collaboration with Account Leads and Client Directors to position for and capture major bid opportunities in the roads market.
• Work with the Market Portfolio Managers to maintain a high level of technical capability including the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works.
• Coach and mentor Early Career Professionals.

You will be accountable for fostering innovation in the delivery of design and technical excellence including digital as well as advocating techniques to improve safety and customer service to deliver the goals of our clients and their customers. As a seasoned highways professional, you have a successful track record of delivering major highway projects in a D&B environment. Through your career, you will have acquired strong skills in design and construction techniques.

You will possess a full awareness of Health & Safety legislation and how it is applied to the design and construction process with the highways sector. You will have experience of project contractual, financial and programme management and the development of collaborative working relationships across multi-disciplinary teams. You are able to communicate targets and priorities to staff, clients and partners as well as communicate in a variety of media in an effective and professional manner with relevant parties. You have the ability to deliver in the demanding D&B environment and demonstrate relationship skills to deal with potential conflicting client needs, including resolution of complex on‑site design/construction issues. You have capabilities to meet tight schedules and targets and as well as coach, develop and mentor team members in their professional development.

Due to the nature of our work, you are flexible to travel to client sites or alternative offices when required, possibly for extended periods of time.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Civil Engineering (or a related subject).
• Chartered with a professional institution such as ICE or CIHT (or equivalent).
• Experience delivering cost‑effective and innovative major highways projects acting at a level expected of a Project Director, Manager or Design/Technical Lead.
• Experience of D&B projects for National Highways.
• Experience overseeing large project teams.
• Demonstrable organisational skills and approach to work to manage inputs from various disciplines and professionals.
• Ability to develop strong professional relationships with clients and partners.
• Significant experience applying road design standards (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges – DMRB) and specifications (e.g. Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Work – MCHW).

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion: We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility: We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary. Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury. Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing. As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle: A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme. Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service. Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers. Enhanced family and carers leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave. Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay. Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development: Primary annual professional institution subscription. A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes: Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.