Design Manager

ZipRecruiter; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment platform is seeking a Design Manager in Manchester. You will own the design delivery plan, lead teams, and ensure compliance with standards. Ideal candidates will have a degree in engineering and experience in managing design for infrastructure projects. The position offers competitive salary, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary with car/allowance

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Flexible/hybrid working

Professional development support

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing design on water/utility or civils infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of buildability and construction methodologies.
• Comfortable leading meetings and challenging design assumptions.

Responsibilities

• Own the design delivery plan: scope, programme, budgets and approvals.
• Lead multi-discipline teams and external design partners.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards and client specifications.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Technical assurance

Leadership

Education

Degree in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Revit

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Design Manager

Location: Manchester (office-based with flexible/hybrid working)

Contract: Permanent, full-time

What you’ll do

• Own the design delivery plan: scope, programme, budgets, design reviews and approvals through each stage.
• Lead multi-discipline teams (civil, MEICA, temporary works, digital engineering) and external design partners/consultancies.
• Drive technical assurance: manage HAZID/HAZOP/ALM reviews, optioneering, buildability, and whole-life considerations.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards, client specifications and legislation (CDM 2015, environmental & quality).
• Coordinate with construction: resolve technical queries (RFI/TQ), support site teams, manage change and risk registers.
• Manage interfaces with planners, estimators, procurement, and commercial to align scope, risk and cost.
• Control the CDE/BIM process: maintain model and drawing deliverables, version control and document management.
• Engage stakeholders: liaise with the client, supply chain, third parties and asset owners to secure timely approvals.
• Report progress: produce design status, KPI, and gateway readiness reports; escalate issues proactively.

About you

• Degree in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (or related).
• Proven experience managing design on water/utility or civils infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of buildability, temporary works principles, and construction methodologies.
• Working knowledge of NEC contracts, CDM 2015 and quality management systems.
• Comfortable leading meetings and challenging/validating design assumptions and costs.
• Competent with common design/delivery tools (e.g., CDEs, BIM workflows, AutoCAD/Civil 3D/Revit exposure advantageous).
• Excellent communication, stakeholder and supplier-management skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to visit sites across the North West.

What we offer

• Competitive salary with car/allowance and matched pension.
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (with options to buy/sell).
• Flexible/hybrid working, life assurance and employee benefits platform.
• Professional development and support toward chartership (ICE/IMechE/IET).
• A collaborative culture focused on safety, delivery and innovation