Design Manager

First Recruitment Group; Newcastle on Clun; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

First Recruitment Group is seeking a Design Manager for Newcastle on a contract basis. The role leads design delivery for major UK water infrastructure projects, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and partners to deliver safe, buildable, and low-carbon solutions.

Responsibilities include defining design scopes, programmes and budgets, ensuring governance compliance, and integrating BIM strategies. NEC4 experience and Civil Engineering background are essential for this fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Civil engineering qualification with practical delivery experience.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Experience with NEC4 contracts.
• Familiarity with BIM to ISO 19650 standards.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design delivery of major water infrastructure projects within a long-term framework.
• Manage multidisciplinary design teams and design partners to achieve objectives.
• Drive safe, buildable, low-carbon engineering solutions.
• Ensure compliance with standards, quality requirements and governance procedures.
• Coordinate and manage design risk, reviews, and CDM processes.
• Support interfaces between design partners and wider project teams.
• Promote strong relationships across design, delivery, commercial and client teams.
• Adhere to BIM strategies within project delivery.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Effective communication

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Adaptability in fast-paced environment

Quality assurance

Proactive approach

Education

Civil Engineering qualification

SMSTS

CSCS Card

Full UK Driving Licence

Tools

NEC4 contracts

BIM to ISO 19650

Job description

Lead the Design of Critical Water Infrastructure Projects Shaping the Future of the UK Water Sector

Our Client has a requirement for a Design Manager, who will be required to work on a contract basis in Newcastle (Hybrid Working).

Role Purpose:

• Lead the design delivery of major water infrastructure projects within a long-term framework programme.
• Manage multidisciplinary design teams and design partners to achieve project objectives.
• Drive the delivery of safe, efficient, buildable, and low-carbon engineering solutions.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, quality requirements, and project governance procedures.
• Support the successful planning, coordination, and execution of design activities from concept through delivery.

Job Role Responsibilities:

• Identify design scope and deliverables.
• Support the development and agreement of design scopes, programmes, and budgets.
• Manage allocated design partners and project teams to deliver against agreed design deliverables, programmes, and budgets.
• Manage design contracts and coordinate reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and project requirements, securing necessary derogations where required.
• Challenge design solutions to ensure safe, efficient, buildable, and low-carbon outcomes.
• Hold and record regular design meetings to actively manage progress and coordination.
• Coordinate and manage design risk, buildability, carbon, and DfMA workshops
• Coordinate and manage design reviews, technical assurance reviews, and CDM reviews.
• Ensure design is implemented and managed in line with project BIM strategies.
• Support interfaces between design partners and wider project teams.
• Maintain awareness of current health and safety legislation relevant to project activities.
• Promote the business professionally to internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across design, delivery, commercial, and client teams.
• Support procurement decision-making activities for design and delivery packages.
• Adhere to project governance requirements relating to design management and project delivery.

Experience / Skills / Knowledge / Qualifications:

• Civil Engineering qualification with practical delivery experience.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for improving performance through best practice, process improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to work and learn quickly in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality work and exceeding expectations.
• Previous experience managing complex and sensitive programmes.
• Practical experience working with NEC4 contracts.
• Positive and proactive approach to work.
• Thorough understanding of:
• Design delivery
• Design procurement
• Design management
• Design control
• Quality assurance
• BIM to ISO 19650
• NEC4 suite of contracts
• Experience working within the water sector in Mechanical, Electrical, ICA, Civils, maintenance, design, or capital delivery environments.

Desirable

• Water industry experience.
• Chartered Engineer status with a relevant professional institution.

Qualifications

• Civil Engineering qualification.
• SMSTS.
• CSCS Card.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Company Information