Job Description:

Our Water consultancy client is seeking a Design Manager to support on bioresource projects based out of Coventry on a permanent basis with hybrid working.

Our client has a growing Water team, supporting key water sector clients on some of the UK's most significant infrastructure investment programmes. As part of an expanding Water business, you will work alongside multidisciplinary delivery teams and industry-leading specialists to help shape the future of water and wastewater services across the UK.

The Design Manager will support a major programme for Severn Trent Water, acting as a key interface between them, contractors, design partners and equipment suppliers. This role will play a critical part in ensuring the successful design development and delivery of bioresources and sludge management projects across the programme.

You will oversee design coordination, technical integration and stakeholder management activities, helping to drive programme performance while ensuring high-quality engineering solutions are delivered safely, efficiently and sustainably.

This position offers the opportunity to influence nationally significant water infrastructure projects whilst working within a collaborative and growing business that values innovation, technical excellence and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Act as Design Manager for bioresources and sludge treatment projects across programme delivery phases.
• Lead coordination between client, contractors, designers, supply chain partners and equipment suppliers.
• Manage design interfaces to ensure alignment of technical solutions, programme requirements and project objectives.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary design reviews and technical workshops.
• Ensure design deliverables are produced in accordance with programme milestones, quality standards and governance requirements.
• Support risk identification and resolution throughout the design lifecycle.
• Develop strong working relationships with client teams, delivery partners and technical specialists.
• Act as a key point of contact between the client and delivery organisations.
• Provide clear and effective communication of design progress, issues and risks.
• Support programme governance and reporting requirements.
• Participate in client meetings and provide technical input where required.
• Review and challenge engineering solutions to ensure safety, operability and value for money.
• Support design assurance activities and ensure compliance with industry standards and client requirements.
• Promote best practice in wastewater treatment, sludge management and bioresources processes.
• Ensure lessons learned and continuous improvement opportunities are captured and implemented.
• Monitor design progress against programme requirements.
• Support management of design risks, dependencies and change control activities.
• Contribute to schedule development, design planning and delivery forecasting.
• Maintain strong collaboration across programme controls, project management and engineering teams.
• Support the successful transition from design through procurement, construction and commissioning activities.

Skills/experience/qualifications

• Significant experience delivering water, wastewater, bioresources or sludge management projects.
• Strong understanding of design management principles within complex infrastructure programmes.
• Demonstrable experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced programme environment.
• Strong understanding of risk management, governance and project delivery processes.
• Experience working in a client-facing environment with water utilities, contractors or engineering consultancies.
• Collaborative and proactive approach to problem solving.
• Degree qualified in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status with a relevant professional institution.
• Typically 7-12 years' relevant industry experience, although more experienced candidates will also be considered.
• Proven background in:
  • Wastewater treatment
  • Bioresources
  • Sludge treatment and management
  • Biosolids processing
• Experience managing design interfaces across multiple organisations.
• Strong understanding of UK water industry regulations, standards and delivery models.
• Full right to work in the UK.
• Experience working directly with UK water utilities
• AMP7 and/or AMP8 programme experience.
• Experience of design management within alliance, framework or contractor-led delivery environments.
• Knowledge of commissioning, operational readiness and handover processes. (desirable)
• Project management qualifications such as APM, PRINCE2 or PMP. (desirable)
• Working knowledge of NEC contracts and collaborative delivery models.

Benefits

• Salary circa £70-90k - will depend on experience level
• Monday - Thursday - 37.5 hour working week (Friday WFH)
• 26 days holiday, increasing by 1 day for 1 year served and up to 28 after year 3
• Car allowance tbc
• Reasonable travel and accommodation will be provided for candidates living further from client offices
• Up to 10% performance bonus
• Private healthcare access for individual and family
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• 5% employer pension rising to 8% when personal contribution at 5%
• Life assurance x4 salary
• Critical illness cover x1 annual salary
• Chartership support
• Leadership development programmes