Design Manager

Elvet Recruitment Limited; Durham; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Elvet Recruitment Limited is recruiting a Design Manager to deliver schemes across the North East for a long-standing civil engineering contractor. The role covers AMP8/9 with work slated over the next 15 years. You will lead design activities across clean water and wastewater networks, ensuring alignment with NEC4 contracts and regulatory standards.

BIM skills and multidisciplinary leadership are essential. Salary up to £70,000 DOE plus generous package.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Chartered status or a relevant professional qualification preferred (MICE/CEng).
• Proven design management experience in the UK water sector.
• Strong knowledge of AMP programmes, TOTEX principles and regulatory environment.
• Experience with NEC contracts and BIM/digital design tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate design activities across water networks, treatment facilities, pipelines and civil structures.
• Ensure design solutions align with construction methods, programme and TOTEX objectives.
• Manage design deliverables, queries, approvals and milestones under NEC4 contracts.
• Ensure compliance with water industry standards, WIS, CESWI, DWI and EA requirements.
• Maintain a live design risk register and support ECI to mitigate delivery risks.
• Oversee BIM processes and digital design workflows (Civil 3D, Revit, ProjectWise) to improve coordination.
• Lead Value Engineering and Collaborative Planning workshops to identify efficiency gains.
• Manage design change with clear client and stakeholder communication.
• Implement QA/QC processes, design verification, HAZOP/HAZCON and document control.
• Coordinate across civil, MEICA, geotechnical and temporary works for integrated solutions.
• Promote technical excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.

Skills

Design management

UK water sector experience

Leadership of multidisciplinary teams

BIM coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Chartered status (MICE/CEng) preferred

Tools

Civil 3D

Revit

ProjectWise

Job description

Elvet Recruitment are recruiting a Design Manager on behalf of a long-standing civil engineering contractor to help deliver schemes across the North East

The role will cover the Northumbrian Water AMP8/9 schemes with work over the next 15 years

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate design activities across clean water and wastewater networks, treatment facilities, pipelines and associated civil structures.
• Ensure design solutions align with construction methodologies, programme requirements and TOTEX objectives.
• Manage design deliverables, technical queries, approvals and key milestones in accordance with NEC4 contracts.
• Ensure compliance with Northumbrian Water Engineering Standards, WIS, CESWI, DWI and EA requirements, as well as relevant planning consents.
• Maintain a live design risk register and support Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) to identify and mitigate delivery risks.
• Oversee BIM processes and digital design workflows, including Civil 3D, Revit and ProjectWise, to improve coordination and minimise rework.
• Lead Value Engineering and Collaborative Planning workshops, ensuring opportunities to improve efficiency and value are identified and implemented.
• Manage design change transparently, maintaining strong communication with clients and stakeholders.
• Implement robust QA/QC processes, including design verification, HAZOP/HAZCON reviews and document control.
• Coordinate effectively across civil, MEICA, geotechnical and temporary works disciplines to ensure fully integrated solutions.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

Ideally, you will have:

• A degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered status or a relevant professional qualification, such as MICE or CEng, is preferred.
• Proven experience in design management within the UK water sector, ideally gained with a contractor or design-and-build organisation.
• Strong knowledge of AMP programmes, TOTEX principles and the UK water regulatory environment.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and coordinating design through to construction.
• A good understanding of NEC contracts and modern delivery models.
• Experience with BIM and relevant digital design tools is desirable.

Remuneration

On offer is a salary of up to 70,000 (DOE) plus generous package

This is a permanent position and Elvet Recruitment Limited will be acting as an employment agency for permanent recruitment on behalf of our client.

By applying for this job you accept the T&Cs, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found on our website

For more information, please contact Jack Vasey at Elvet Recruitment