About the @one Alliance
The Anglian Water @one Alliance is a totally collaborative organisation made up of nine partner companies (Anglian Water, SWECO, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, and Skanska) and an extended supply chain, delivering over half of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme.
We are gearing up for our most exciting and challenging Asset Management Period yet, known as AMP8, this will see us deliver a programme of work larger than we’ve ever delivered before. We’ll be embarking on a new kind of project delivery focusing on nature-based solutions like wetlands and urban drainage schemes.
We are driving change, empowering us to set global benchmarks and build a better environment, with the opportunity to offer enhanced growth and development to our workforce. We’re looking to build on our existing teams with an environment built for career progression.
With such an exciting portfolio of projects planned for AMP8 to keep the water flowing across the region, our ability to manage our work and outperform against our customer’s expectations will come under greater scrutiny.
We need aspiring driven talent to help us achieve our ambitious targets, are you ready to join us as we prepare to deliver the most creative and innovative AMP we have ever seen?
About Sweco
Transforming society together, we're planning and designing sustainable communities and cities of the future.
Solving the great societal challenges of our time is more relevant, demanding and inspiring than ever before. At Sweco, we bring together experts with different perspectives and skills to develop solutions that address the challenges of urbanisation, harness the positive power of digitalisation and make societies more sustainable.
We offer our clients a combination of global expertise and local presence, adapted to their business and reality. Our ambition is to be our clients’ most relevant partner, working together to help them solve their challenges, today and into the future.
To ensure we support our objectives of collaboration across the business whilst providing our workforce with the agility to achieve a healthy work/ life balance, we are asking our employees to have office or site presence on an average of three days a week.
What will you be doing as our new Design Manager?
In your new position as Design Manager, you lead will lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team (circa 15-20 staff) to deliver engineering design solutions for a portfolio of poly and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) removal projects. PFAS is a new portfolio in AMP8 looking at removing ‘forever’ chemicals in Water. The engineering design solutions will centre around the use of two stage Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment. The combined value of the portfolio is circa £155 million and there are five projects within the portfolio at Water Treatment Works (WTWs) spread across the region from Grimsby to Colchester.
Key Accountabilities:
Design Management:
* Lead and manage the engineering design delivery for the poly and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) removal projects.
* Develop and manage Engineering Project Plans that include scope, program, cost, risk, and resources.
* Provide direction on suitable treatment methods and process design in collaboration with Senior Discipline Engineers.
* Assess project complexity and assign suitably competent engineering resources.
* Implement design quality procedures and ensure adherence to achieve a right-first-time philosophy.
* Manage supplier and subcontractor design input, including engagement, selection, management, and integration of designs.
Project Delivery:
* Work in partnership with other functions to deliver outcomes for your portfolio.
* Seek and deliver opportunities to achieve affordability and value within your portfolio.
* Support the development and management of project programs to achieve milestones and drive efficiencies.
* Produce designs that contribute to enhancing sustainability.
Health & Safety:
* Undertake delegated duties of the Principal Designer as per CDM Regulations.
* Manage CDM competency assessments for your team and projects.
* Ensure the production of design risk assessments and manage health & safety documentation for your portfolio.
People/Team Development:
* Provide clear, consistent, and visible leadership to your portfolio design team.
* Undertake people management responsibilities, including performance management and personal development.
* Allocate resources based on project priorities and complexity.
* Support team development and recruitment efforts.
Transformation:
* Support the engineering team transformation and transition into AMP8.
* Drive a culture of experimentation, innovation, risk management, and continuous improvement within your team.
* Reduce carbon and natural capital within designs and embrace new digital technologies.
A little bit about your skills, experience and behaviours..
To be successful in this position you will ideally hold a degree in an engineering discipline and preferably be Chartered or working towards Chartered status, with proven experience in the Water sector ideally on potable water non-infrastructure treatment projects. You’ll have a familiarity with UK Water Industry regulations, and a thirst for knowledge.
You’ll have solid people management skills and have adaptable collaborative communication skills. You’re aware of the importance of Quality Assurance and Risk and Opportunities Management, and focused on Right First-Time approach, whilst considering delivery on time implications.
If you believe you have the skill set required, are keen to join a business with genuine opportunities for career progression, then we’d love to hear from you.
@OneAlliance vision
A collaborative alliance, driving change. Empowering us to set global benchmarks and building a better environment for our customers. We strive to:
Empower our people; Delight our Customers; Embrace digital transformation; Deliver brilliance.
@OneAlliance Values
To bring environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve through our commitment to Love Every Drop we:
Build trust; Do the right thing; Are always exploring
The Anglian Water @one Alliance. Nine partners, endless opportunities.
Let’s transform society together at Sweco.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
It’s important to us that that all our colleagues thrive at work - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects the contribution individuals can bring to Sweco. We aim to promote equality, inclusivity and diversity for everyone.
Here at Sweco we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity.
We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. To find out more The Armed Forces Covenant - Our Commitments | Sweco UK .
We are an accredited Real Living Wage Employer which reflects our commitment to fair pay and support for all colleagues.
We are also proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer, and will interview applicants covered by the Equality Act 2010 that opt into the guaranteed interview scheme on the application form and meet the minimum criteria for the role.
If I have a disability, can I get help (e.g. “reasonable adjustments”) with the application process?
If you’re an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, please contact GB_Function-HR-Resourcing@sweco.co.uk for assistance.
In order to address your request the following information is needed:
Name
The best method for contacting you (Phone or email)
The position title
Requisition/vacancy number
Upon receipt of this information, we’ll respond to you promptly to obtain more information about your request.
Please note: we reserve the right to close vacancies before the advertised closing date.
Sweco UK&I have an internal resourcing team who are responsible for all recruiting activity. We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted agencies who we work with on those “hard to fill” roles.
We have defined processes for recruitment applications and it is company policy not to accept speculative CVs. Any speculative CVs received into the business (whether to a manager or member of the resourcing team) will become the property of Sweco and the agency will not be eligible for an introductory fee.
Our Preferred Supplier List was reviewed in November 2025 and we are not looking to add any additional agencies. We’ll be reviewing the PSL again at the end of 2026 and non-compliance with the above statements could be detrimental to you having the opportunity to be included.
Our Talent Community for experienced professionals is a great way to keep up to date with our latest news, insights, future vacancies, as well as gaining access to exclusive events hosted by our experts.
To learn more Join Our Talent Community - Sweco United Kingdom