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- Tasks: Lead design improvements and drive innovation in a dynamic engineering environment.
- Company: Join a leading power and utilities company focused on transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous improvement and emerging technologies.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing design processes and embracing digital solutions.
- Qualifications: 8-15+ years in design, strong stakeholder engagement, and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Design Performance and Innovation Manager will play a senior role within the Design function, working alongside the Design Manager to enhance the efficiency, quality, and consistency of design delivery across a portfolio of substation, underground circuit, and overhead line projects delivered under a DNO framework (circa 100 live projects). Unlike traditional design roles, this position blends credible engineering understanding with the ability to drive meaningful change within a regulated, delivery-pressured environment. The successful candidate will act as a bridge between design teams, delivery, digital systems, and strategic improvement initiatives - ensuring transformation sticks, adds value, and accelerates programme performance.
This role is responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing improvements to design processes, systems, and tools, including the adoption of digital technologies, automation, and AI where appropriate. The objective is to reduce design programme durations, improve right-first-time quality, and standardise outputs while maintaining compliance with regulatory and client requirements. The role requires a balance of technical design credibility, continuous improvement expertise, and strong stakeholder engagement to successfully embed change within a live delivery environment.
Responsibilities
- Map end-to-end design workflows to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and key drivers of rework
- Apply Lean / Six Sigma principles to improve design cycle times, reduce variation, and enhance right-first-time performance
- Drive standardisation of design packs, templates, and technical outputs across multiple projects
- Lead targeted improvement initiatives and pilot schemes, evaluating outcomes and scaling successful approaches across the design function
- Improve and optimise digital design workflows, including CAD/BIM environments, Common Data Environments (CDEs), and structured data libraries
- Identify, prioritise, and implement automation opportunities (e.g. scripted drawings, rules-based design, template-driven outputs)
- Assess and deploy practical AI and digital solutions (such as document generation, design validation, and knowledge retrieval tools), ensuring value-driven adoption
- Collaborate with IT and digital teams to implement systems that improve efficiency, consistency, and data management across design activities
Qualifications
- Significant experience (typically 8–15+ years) in power, utilities, or infrastructure design environments
- Demonstrable background in the design of substations, cable systems, or overhead lines, or closely related disciplines
- Experience working within Tier 1 contractors, engineering consultancies, or utility organisations
- Proven track record of delivering process improvements or transformation initiatives within a design or engineering function
- Experience implementing standardisation, digital tools, or familiarity with working in regulated environments and/or within DNO frameworks
- Experience operating within live project environments with competing delivery pressures
- Strong understanding of engineering design processes and delivery constraints within the power sector
- Lean / Six Sigma principles desirable
- Ability to translate operational challenges into practical, implementable solutions
- Good knowledge of design systems and tools (e.g. CAD, BIM, Common Data Environments)
- Awareness of emerging technologies, including automation and AI, and their practical application in design
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across technical and non-technical teams
- Ability to build credibility quickly with engineering teams and gain buy-in for change initiatives
- Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to drive decision-making and measure success
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate ideas and drive engagement
- Resilient and pragmatic approach, with the ability to operate effectively in a complex, regulated environment
Design Performance And Innovation Manager in London employer: OCU
Contact Detail:
OCU Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Performance And Innovation Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on 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
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work and showcases your design process. This is especially important for a role like Design Performance and Innovation Manager, where demonstrating your ability to drive change and improve processes is key.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their design workflows and think about how you can apply Lean/Six Sigma principles to improve them. Bring ideas to the table – it shows initiative and that you’re ready to hit the ground running!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Tailor your application to highlight your experience with digital tools and stakeholder management, as these are crucial for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Performance And Innovation Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Design Performance and Innovation Manager. Highlight your experience in power, utilities, or infrastructure design environments, and don’t forget to showcase any Lean/Six Sigma projects you've led!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain how your background aligns with our needs, especially your ability to drive meaningful change in regulated environments. Be sure to mention specific examples of past successes.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: We want to see your technical prowess! Make sure to include your experience with design systems like CAD and BIM, as well as any familiarity with automation and AI tools. This will help us understand how you can contribute to improving our design processes.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at OCU
✨Know Your Design Processes
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of design workflows, especially in power and utilities. Be ready to discuss how you've identified bottlenecks and implemented improvements in past roles. This will show that you understand the intricacies of the job and can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Lean/Six Sigma Expertise
Since this role involves applying Lean and Six Sigma principles, be prepared to share specific examples of how you've used these methodologies to enhance design cycle times or improve quality. Highlight any successful initiatives you've led and the measurable outcomes they achieved.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Engagement Skills
This position requires strong stakeholder management, so think of instances where you've successfully influenced teams or gained buy-in for change initiatives. Be ready to discuss how you communicate complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.
✨Embrace Digital Transformation
Familiarise yourself with the latest digital tools and technologies relevant to design, such as CAD, BIM, and AI applications. Be prepared to discuss how you've leveraged these tools to optimise workflows and drive efficiency in previous projects.