Role Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the design function across major AMP8 clean and wastewater treatment programmes. This senior leadership role holds full accountability for design delivery, team performance, commercial outcomes, and technical governance across a multi-million-pound portfolio.
As the Design Manager, you will take strategic and operational responsibility for the mechanical and electrical design capability—managing design teams, resources, budgets and ensuring seamless integration with wider project delivery. You will act as design authority for the business, driving innovation, technical excellence and best practice while maintaining strong client relationships and commercial performance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Commercial Leadership
* Manage design budgets, forecasting for the design function.
* Lead bid & tender submissions, evaluating technical risk, scope, methodology and resource requirements.
* Drive value engineering and whole-life cost optimisation while safeguarding quality and performance.
* Oversee design risk management across programmes, implementing mitigation strategies.
* Report design performance to senior leadership and contribute to business growth and development strategy.
Design Delivery & Technical Authority
* Act as technical lead for water & wastewater treatment design projects across concept, detailed design and delivery support.
* Ensure compliance with WIMES, CDM, British Standards, water company specifications and associated regulations.
* Lead multidisciplinary design coordination with civil, process, ICA, commissioning and operational teams.
* Support construction and commissioning phases, resolving technical queries and assuring buildability.
Stakeholder & Client Engagement
* Build and maintain strong relationships with clients
* Represent the design function in client governance forums, framework reviews and senior technical meetings.
* Lead client workshops, design reviews and presentations with clarity and authority.
* Manage expectations around design change, programme, risk and deliverables.
* Collaborate with framework partners, supply chain and regulatory bodies at senior level.
Process, Quality & Governance
* Establish and maintain design standards, procedures and quality assurance frameworks.
* Implement design governance processes—stage gates, peer reviews, approval workflows.
* Drive continuous improvement, efficiency and lessons-learned culture.
* Ensure compliance with ISO9001, NEC contractual requirements, and CDM designer duties.
* Promote Health & Safety culture throughout design development and decision-making.
About You
Essential
* Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or related Engineering discipline.
* Chartered Engineer (CEng) via IMechE / IET / CIBSE or equivalent.
* Previous M&E design experience within the UK water/wastewater sector.
* Proven experience managing design teams
* Commercial awareness — budgeting, margins, forecasting and P&L accountability.
* Strong knowledge of treatment process interfaces and water sector asset standards.
* Experience across full project lifecycle — feasibility to commissioning.
* Understanding of NEC3/NEC4 contract mechanisms and design liability.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement and client-facing communication skills.
* Strategic mindset with the ability to balance innovation, cost, risk and programme