At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design development for rail projects, ensuring safety and sustainability.
- Company: Join Octavius, a top civil engineering firm transforming transport solutions in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, private healthcare, hybrid working, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of quality, integrity, and continuous improvement in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on railway performance while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Degree in Civil Engineering or related field; experience in rail design preferred.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
We're recruiting a Development Manager (Design Manager) to join Octavius, a leading civil engineering organisation delivering safe, sustainable and efficient transport solutions across the UK. Through long‑term rail frameworks and our Southern Renewals Enterprise, we offer the opportunity to shape projects from the earliest stages, work collaboratively with design partners, and make a real impact on the performance of the railway. At Octavius, we value quality, integrity and openness, empower our people to lead, and create an environment where expertise, innovation and continuous improvement are encouraged.
Responsibilities
- Working closely with our Pre‑Construction Leads, customers (including Network Rail), design partners and delivery teams, you'll coordinate all pre‑construction and design development activity to ensure schemes are robust, compliant, affordable and deliverable.
- You'll balance technical excellence with commercial awareness, ensuring programmes are developed safely, sustainably and in line with agreed budgets and timescales.
- Leading the development of pre‑construction and design activities for rail renewal projects.
- Coordinating surveys, site investigations and design information to inform cost and programme certainty.
- Managing assurance, governance and compliance requirements throughout the development stage.
- Driving collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to develop high‑quality, buildable solutions.
- Supporting possession planning, estimating, risk management and option selection.
- Taking ownership of financial performance, change control and risk/opportunity management within your schemes.
- Championing safety, sustainability, innovation and continuous improvement within the development process.
Benefits
We offer a competitive rewards package, including a Company Car scheme, Private Healthcare, Pension, Life Assurance cover, 25 days Annual Leave (and a day off for your birthday). You'll also have access to Hybrid working where possible, an enhanced Paternity & Maternity package and the opportunity to develop yourself personally and professionally.
About you
You're a confident and collaborative design or development professional with experience working in the rail environment, comfortable operating in complex, fast‑paced programmes. You're skilled at:
- Managing multidisciplinary design and development processes from concept through to construction readiness.
- Working within Network Rail standards, assurance processes and governance frameworks.
- Engaging effectively with clients, stakeholders, designers and delivery teams.
- Balancing technical, commercial and programme considerations to deliver value‑led outcomes.
- Leading and contributing to risk workshops, design reviews and assurance meetings.
- Driving a strong safety culture and embedding environmental and sustainability considerations into decision‑making.
You naturally build trust and credibility, lead by example, and are motivated by delivering quality infrastructure safely and efficiently.
Qualifications
- Degree, diploma or vocational qualification in Construction, Civil Engineering or a related discipline (essential).
- SMSTS or equivalent CDM 2015 training (desirable).
- Chartered or working towards chartership (ICE, APM or similar) (desirable).
- PTS, Temporary Works Coordination or similar rail competencies (desirable).
Values
Above all, you'll live our values of Quality, Integrity, Openness, Caring and Progressiveness, bringing energy, leadership and a continuous‑improvement mindset to everything you do.
Inclusion and diversity
Inclusion and diversity are important to us, we are an equal opportunities employer and value difference. We want and will continue to build an inclusive environment where our people thrive. We firmly believe constantly striving to build a truly diverse workforce is what makes us a strong business and will enable us to continue to solve important problems and deliver unrivalled value to both our customers and clients.
If you need any specialist support throughout your application, we will work with you where we can to support your journey with us.
E&P Design Manager employer: Octavius Infrastructure Limited
At Octavius, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the civil engineering sector. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our comprehensive benefits package, including private healthcare, a company car scheme, and opportunities for professional development, all while working on impactful rail projects across the UK. Join us to be part of a team that values quality, integrity, and sustainability, ensuring you can make a meaningful contribution to the future of transport solutions.
Contact Detail:
Octavius Infrastructure Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land E&P Design Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the rail industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Octavius and understanding their projects. Familiarise yourself with their values of quality, integrity, and sustainability. When you know what they stand for, you can tailor your responses to show how you fit right in!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with real-life examples. When discussing your past projects, highlight how you managed multidisciplinary teams or tackled challenges in design development. This will demonstrate your capability and make you stand out as a candidate.
✨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 the team at Octavius. Let’s get you that E&P Design Manager role!
We think you need these skills to ace E&P Design Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the E&P Design Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing multidisciplinary design processes and working within Network Rail standards to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about the rail industry and how your background aligns with our values of quality, integrity, and openness. This is your chance to showcase your personality and enthusiasm!
Showcase Relevant Experience:When detailing your work history, focus on projects where you’ve led design development or managed complex programmes. We want to see how you’ve driven collaboration and delivered value-led outcomes in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Octavius Infrastructure Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Network Rail processes and standards. Familiarise yourself with the specific requirements for rail renewal projects, as well as the technical aspects of civils, M&E, and geotechnical disciplines. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and confidence during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working closely with multidisciplinary teams, be prepared to discuss examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve engaged effectively with clients, stakeholders, and delivery teams to achieve project goals.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to manage risk, change control, and compliance. Think of specific scenarios from your previous roles where you had to balance technical and commercial considerations, and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes.
✨Emphasise Safety and Sustainability
Octavius values safety and sustainability highly, so be sure to articulate your commitment to these principles. Share examples of how you've embedded safety culture and environmental considerations into your decision-making processes in past projects.
