Project - Design Lead

Location: Flexible within our region (hybrid with needs-based time in the office)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37, Monday to Friday

Salary: circa £50,000 depending on skills and experience

Closing Date: 2026-03-13

Storm overflows are very provocative and not acceptable to our customers and stakeholders. We want to lead the charge in resolving the current situation. That’s where our Clean Rivers & Seas Task Force comes in, implementing pioneering and industry-leading solutions to reduce spills and reliance on overflows whilst also enhancing the environment for our communities. We’ve already delivered a £45m pathfinder programme and are now scaling up to a £1.5bn initiative over the next decade. This is your chance to join the taskforce’s technical team, solving complex problems, and see your insights shape one of the most critical environmental programmes in the country.

About the role:

To provide technical input and develop solutions during the identification of needs and the design, construction, and commissioning process. Making decisions and recommendations that are recognised as authoritative and have an important impact on engineering design activities. In the majority of cases, the role holder will have the final input on the design to be constructed.

What you will be responsible for:

• Undertake and lead in-house outline design and optioneering and ensure that technically fit-for-purpose and robust outline and detailed designs for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects are delivered in a timely manner.
• Provide quality assurance of supply chain designs to ensure fitness for purpose.
• Drive efficiency and rigour in delivery by providing cross-project coordination and leadership.
• Manage delivery for feasibility optioneering and outline design, including:

• Be responsible for the quality of all design deliverables
• Be responsible for the delivery of best value solutions
• Produce design deliverables within the required timescales
• Manage design costs within the budget
• Manage scope and change control
• Working with external departments and design teams as required

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Experience in a water industry infrastructure programme and project delivery environment, with experience of delivering complex individual or groups of projects.
• Very good communication and presentation skills.
• High level ability to present & articulate technical ideas and arguments to both technical experts and lay people.
• Excellent verbal and written English.
• Strong financial awareness.
• Understands others roles within the team, the role and objectives of the team in the business and can explain these clearly.
• Collaborates with other areas in the wider interests of the business.
• Identifies causes and effects by thinking through different options to prioritise issues.
• Uses common sense or previous experience to deal with new problems or situations which may arise.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed. You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation.

Our Commitment to Diversity:

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

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