Highways Design Manager – Principal / Associate Engineer
Join Mott MacDonald as a Highways Design Manager. This role is based in the UK with locations in Cambridge, Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Reading, Sheffield and Southampton.
Recruiter contact: Madeleine Knight
Location/s: Cambridge, Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton; UK
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries. We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe.
Overview Of The Role
We are looking for a Design Manager with a track record of delivering complex multi‑disciplinary major infrastructure and highways projects. Your primary role will be as a senior leader for major road projects, focusing on Design and Build (D&B) schemes across the UK and occasionally internationally. You will also lead client engagement, bid development, and team leadership to improve delivery efficiency and client satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities and Duties Include
* Develop trusted relationships with key contractor partners and their customers, including National Highways and local authorities.
* Lead acquisition and delivery of profitable projects aligned with strategy.
* Support Project Directors and Managers with leadership and governance.
* Deliver projects within budget, programme and quality targets.
* Develop a collaborative contractor‑lead culture across project teams and supply chain partners.
* Enhance client satisfaction and undertake project reviews to foster learning and continuous improvement.
* Contribute to major project bids, securing the right to win and delivering customer needs.
* Work with Account Leads and Client Directors to capture major bid opportunities in the roads market.
* Maintain technical capability, including the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works.
* Coach and mentor early‑career professionals.
Candidate specification
* Seasoned highways professional with a successful track record in D&B environments.
* Strong knowledge of design and construction techniques.
* Full awareness of Health & Safety legislation relevant to highways design and construction.
* Experience in project contractual, financial and programme management across multidisciplinary teams.
* Excellent communication skills across media and with staff, clients, and partners.
* Adept at resolving complex on‑site design/construction issues in a demanding D&B environment.
* Demonstrated ability to meet tight schedules, mentor and develop team members.
* Flexibility to travel to client sites or alternative offices as required, possibly for extended periods.
Desirable Qualifications / Experience
* Degree in Civil Engineering or related subject.
* Chartered with a professional institution such as ICE or CIHT (or equivalent).
* Experience delivering cost‑effective and innovative major highways projects at a Project Director/Manager or Design/Technical Lead level.
* Experience of D&B projects for National Highways.
* Experience overseeing large project teams.
* Organisational skills to manage inputs from various disciplines and professionals.
* Ability to develop strong client and partner relationships.
* Significant experience applying road design standards (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges – DMRB) and specifications (e.g. Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Work – MCHW).
We Offer Some Fantastic Benefits Including
Health and well‑being
* Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
* Health cash plan to support everyday health costs and treatments.
* Access to Peppy, providing free menopause support for all UK colleagues.
* Well‑being support through our comprehensive programme, including family access.
* Flexibility to adjust salary to opt into a range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to family.
Financial well‑being
* Match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
* Life assurance up to 4× basic salary, with option to increase to 6×.
* Income protection scheme and absence/return‑to‑work support for long‑term illness or injury.
* Flexible benefits including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
* Annual bonus scheme shared across the business.
Lifestyle
* Minimum 33–35 days holiday per year, inclusive of public holidays; increased to 35 days after 5 years’ service.
* Option to buy or sell leave through a flexible benefits programme.
* Employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.
Enhanced family and carers leave
* 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, 2 weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
* Shared parental leave matching maternity leave (up to 24 weeks at full pay).
* Up to 5 additional days for significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
Learning and development
* Primary annual professional institution subscription.
* Opportunities to enhance technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training and self‑development options.
Networks, communities, and social outcomes
* Join diverse employee networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and parent/carer communities.
* Contribute to social outcomes within local communities.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
Accessibility
We want you to perform your best in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need support, contact reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com for assistance.
UK Immigration
Mott MacDonald Ltd. is not offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route at present. We welcome applications from candidates eligible for alternative routes that do not require sponsorship.
Agile working
We offer a hybrid working policy, embracing flexibility and trust to meet client, team, and personal commitments.
Contact and Apply
To apply, visit our website or contact Madeleine Knight. This position is Permanent and Full Time within the Transport market, design and highways discipline.
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