Design Manager - Water in Sevenoaks

Ready to lead in the water sector? We’re expanding our teams for 2026 and seeking Design Managers from Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Process backgrounds. This is a unique opportunity to influence major projects and grow your career within our Brighton, Ashford, Kings Hill, or Southampton hubs.

This is your chance to:

• Form & lead multidisciplinary project teams whilst coordinating design & project delivery.
• Work on exciting water projects that push boundaries and make a significant impact.
• Partner with top water clients across the UK, shaping the future of the industry.

We’re a leading engineering consultancy with continued growth ambitions, building on a successful track record. Our 2025 water strategy is brimming with opportunities, and you’ll be at the forefront, tackling iconic projects.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• We prioritise community – designing solutions that minimise environmental impact and maximise social benefits.
• We champion sustainable development, delivering infrastructure projects that adapt to climate change.

Your role

You will coordinate upfront design and project delivery, working closely with Project Managers and technical experts across our multidisciplinary teams. You will play a fundamental role in the identification of innovative and sustainable solutions, whilst working collaboratively with the client. You will also be responsible for ensuring that we deliver best value and client service excellence, monitoring the quality, compliance and efficiency of project deliverables.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Lead in the design & implementation of principles to improve health, safety & wellbeing outcomes in project design.
• Ensure technical resources are assigned & supported.
• Contribute toward the development or marketing & business development activity.

We work in a variety of project areas within the water sector, including clean water treatment and networks, wastewater treatment, wastewater networks, flooding, and urban drainage. Our national design teams are involved in large partnership initiatives & award‑winning projects, along with a number of other UK‑wide opportunities. More locally, this includes Southern Water’s AMP 8 Professional Services Framework.

About You

We are looking for someone who has a passion for solving engineering problems, the ability to lead and inspire and the confidence to drive through challenging solutions. You will have experience of working in a similar role within the water sector, or other relevant regulated industry. You will also be a degree qualified (or equivalent) engineer and you will ideally be chartered, or a member of a relevant engineering institution e.g. ICE. Support can be given to achieve this if required. We have opportunities for differing levels of seniority, so if you are looking to develop your leadership career, we’ll support you on your journey.

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities. Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world‑class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact us and we will talk to you about how we can support you.