Design Manager

Sweco; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working (FlexWorks)

Company car or car allowance

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Pension contribution

25 days holiday + 5 option days

Cycle2Work scheme

Employee discounts

Real Living Wage Employer

Disability Confident committed

Salary sacrifice EV scheme

Tree planting for new starters

Job summary

Sweco UK is seeking a Design Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team delivering potable water non-infrastructure projects within the AMP8 programme. You will shape design strategy, manage resources, and ensure right-first-time delivery while collaborating with other functions.

The role requires a degree in engineering, and Chartered status or progression toward it is preferred. You will drive risk, quality assurance, and sustainable design practices across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering (preferred Chartered) with water sector experience.
• Solid people management skills and ability to lead a design team.
• Familiarity with UK Water Industry regulations and CDM requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering design delivery for storage points, maintenance and emergencies in potable water projects.
• Develop and manage Engineering Project Plans including scope, program, cost, risk and resources.
• Provide design direction and select methods in collaboration with Senior Discipline Engineers.
• Ensure right-first-time design quality and manage supplier/subcontractor input.
• Drive project delivery, value for portfolio, and sustainability in designs.
• Oversee Health & Safety responsibilities including CDM compliance and risk assessments.
• Support team development, recruitment, and resource allocation.

Skills

Engineering leadership

People management

Project planning

Water sector experience

Health & safety awareness

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered status or working towards

Job description

Job Description

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 will lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team (circa 15-20 staff) to deliver engineering design solutions for a portfolio of water (potable) non-infrastructure projects ranging from asset/storage point maintenance; ground water abstraction; water treatment works upgrades and emergency projects .

Key Accountabilities:

Design Management:

• Lead and manage the engineering design delivery for the storage points, maintenance and emergencies portfolio on water (potable) non-infrastructure 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.

Employee Benefits

• Flexible and hybrid working (Flexworks Policy)
• Competitive pension contribution
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance
• Company car or car allowance
• Discretionary Annual Bonus Scheme
• Payment of two relevant professional subscriptions
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days per year)
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (wellbeing, mental health, financial and work advice)
• Employee discounts via Sweco Benefit Select (Faircare)
• Salary Sacrifice Electric Vehicle Scheme
• We plant a tree for all new starters!

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.

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

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 .

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?

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

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.

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