Engineering Manager – Water
Perm/Contract: £75k-£90k/ £450-£500pd outside ir35
Location: Manchester
Hybrid: 1-2 days WFH, the rest in the office
Role Purpose
The Engineering Manager leads a multidisciplinary engineering team to deliver high-quality water industry design projects. The role ensures all design outputs meet technical, safety, programme, and client expectations while driving innovation, compliance, and best-practice engineering standards.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
• Lead, develop, and mentor multidisciplinary engineers, CAD technicians, and graduate engineers.
• Act as the Professional Head for the design function, providing technical authority and oversight.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, technical excellence, and safe design practice.
Design Management & Technical Oversight
• Identify, implement, and communicate efficient, safe, and value-engineered design solutions.
• Ensure designs comply with all relevant technical, professional, and water company standards.
• Approve design packages and ensure outputs are integrated, coordinated, and quality compliant.
• Lead the use of appropriate engineering software, including BIM and 3D modelling tools.
• Review, interpret, and brief the team on standards, procedures, and updates.
Project Delivery & Commercial Control
• Manage the production of design deliverables within agreed timescales and resource allocations.
• Ensure design-related project changes are accurately recorded and communicated.
• Lead the estimating of design hours and support bid development where required.
• Oversee formal processes and procedures, ensuring consistent quality and governance.
Required Qualifications & Experience
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in the regulated water industry.
• Graduate Degree or HND in an engineering discipline.
• Strong IT skills and familiarity with modern engineering software.
• Chartered Engineer status.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design teams and delivering complex engineering projects.
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Preferred Qualifications & Experience
• Chartered or actively working toward chartership.
• Strong understanding of MEICA, civil, and process engineering design.
• Demonstrated ambition to take a senior leadership role within an engineering design function.
Key Skills & Competencies
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Results-focused mindset with a drive for high-quality delivery
• Excellent technical knowledge across relevant engineering disciplines
• Ability to develop self and others
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Effective team leadership and collaboration