Design Manager

Gearing Recruitment Solutions Ltd; Darlaston; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Life assurance

Private medical cover

25 days' annual leave

Job summary

Gearing Recruitment Solutions Ltd is assisting a leading UK civil engineering and infrastructure specialist in finding an experienced Design Manager to join its growing engineering team on permanent basis. The role covers design leadership across water, wastewater, pipelines and broader networks, with a focus on safe, efficient delivery to programme and budget.

You will lead design consultants and internal engineers, ensure design outputs meet standards, and collaborate with project managers and

Qualifications

• Proven experience in design and engineering management within civil engineering, infrastructure or water environments.
• Experience with foul water drainage systems and potable water mains is preferred.
• Experience using BIM and CDEs.
• Degree, HNC or equivalent in Civil Engineering.
• Membership of, or working towards, a recognised engineering institution.
• Strong communication and people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of technical appropriateness, compliance and quality of project solutions throughout the lifecycle.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver designs to programme and budget.
• Manage external design consultants, budgets, programmes and change control processes.
• Ensure outputs comply with legislation, client requirements and standards.
• Collaborate with project managers, clients and supply chain to manage risks and changes.

Skills

Communication

People management

Time management

Project design management

Education

BSc in Civil Engineering

HNC or equivalent

Engineering Institution member

Tools

BIM

CDEs

Job description

Location: UK-based / project-dependent

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Sector: Civil Engineering & Infrastructure

Employment Type: Permanent

We are recruiting on behalf of a leading privately owned UK civil engineering and infrastructure specialist for an experienced Design Manager to join its growing engineering team.

With more than 40 years of industry experience and over 1,200 employees nationwide, our client delivers complex civil engineering, infrastructure and maintenance solutions across the water, transport, built environment and energy sectors.

The business works with major blue‑chip, regulated and private‑sector clients through frameworks, joint ventures, alliances and standalone projects. With a direct delivery model and a strong focus on its people, the organisation has built a reputation for delivering high‑quality infrastructure projects while supporting long‑term career development.

The Opportunity

As Design Manager, you will be responsible for delivering technically compliant, robust and practical design solutions in support of a varied programme of civil engineering and infrastructure projects.

You will lead design consultants and multidisciplinary engineering teams, ensuring solutions are delivered safely, efficiently, to budget and in line with programme requirements. The role will involve supporting project delivery teams with concept, basic and detailed design solutions across clean water, wastewater, biosolids treatment, pipelines, trunk mains, foul water drainage systems, sewers, pumping stations and wider networks.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the technical appropriateness, compliance and quality of project solutions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, including internal engineers, consultants and partner organisations, to deliver designs to programme and budget.
• Manage external design consultants, engineering budgets, design programmes and change control processes.
• Ensure engineering outputs, including calculations, drawings and specifications, comply with legislation, client requirements, quality systems and relevant standards.
• Work closely with Project Managers, Engineering Managers, clients, consultants, technical teams and the supply chain to manage risks, scope changes and project issues.

You will also be expected to understand the principles of Temporary Works, including the responsibilities of designers, coordinators and contractors, and to engage with internal and external Temporary Works designers where required.

About You

• Proven experience in design and engineering management within a civil engineering, infrastructure or water environment.
• Experience with foul water drainage systems and potable water mains.
• Experience using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Common Data Environments (CDEs).
• A degree, HNC or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering.
• Membership of, or be working towards membership of, a recognised engineering institution.
• Strong communication, people management, time management and project design management skills.

Why Join?

Our client is a people-focused organisation with a strong family heritage and a long-standing commitment to its employees.

As a Gold Investors in People organisation, the business is committed to creating an inclusive working environment where people are supported, developed and encouraged to progress throughout their careers. Employees benefit from long-term job security through major infrastructure frameworks and large-scale projects, as well as opportunities to work across a broad range of civil engineering, mechanical and electrical schemes.

The benefits package includes:

• Competitive salary, company pension, life assurance and private medical cover.
• 25 days' annual leave, plus 8 public holidays and loyalty days.
• Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits and 8 hours' paid volunteering leave.
• Company car, green car scheme, car allowance or van, depending on the position.
• Leadership training, coaching, regular appraisals and internal and external development opportunities.

If you are an experienced Design Manager looking for your next opportunity with a respected and established infrastructure business, we would be keen to hear from you.