Design Manager

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; Newport; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working

Pension scheme

Annual bonus

Private Medical Insurance

Share-save scheme

Job summary

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead design management across multiple Welsh Water Capital Delivery projects. You will coordinate framework partners, consultants and subcontractors to deliver safe, cost-effective, buildable solutions through ECI to handover.

The role focuses on pre-construction design, gateway approvals, and ensuring compliance with regulations and client requirements within a collaborative delivery framework.

Qualifications

• Proven design management experience on infrastructure or construction projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams and coordinating consultants and subcontractors.
• Strong planning, organisation and time management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication with clients and partners.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for design management activities from ECI through to construction, completion and handover.
• Manage framework design partners and subcontractors to ensure on-time, on-budget, high-quality deliverables.
• Lead design reviews and multidisciplinary coordination meetings.
• Develop and manage design scopes of service for consultants and subcontractors.
• Produce and maintain integrated design programmes and report progress against milestones.
• Coordinate design activities with designers, contractors, clients and statutory bodies.

Job description

South Wales

Talented people are the key to our success.

We are looking for an experienced Design Manager to join our Water business and support the delivery of an exciting portfolio of projects across the Welsh Water Capital Delivery Framework.

As investment across AMP8 continues to grow, we are expanding our Design Management capability to ensure the efficient delivery of projects from Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) through Outline Design, Detailed Design, Construction and Handover.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an established Design & Build contractor with over 30 years of continuous delivery for Welsh Water, working on a varied portfolio of sewer network improvements and wastewater treatment upgrades that will help shape the future of water infrastructure across Wales.

Reporting to the Senior Engineering Manager, you will take ownership of design management activities across multiple projects, ensuring the successful coordination of framework design partners, subcontractors and stakeholders.

About The Role

As Design Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring projects progress efficiently through the pre-construction and design phases, delivering high-quality, buildable solutions that are safe, cost-effective and capable of being constructed right first time.

Working as part of a team of Design Managers, you will manage a portfolio of schemes at varying stages of development, providing leadership and coordination throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for design management activities from ECI through to construction, completion and handover.
• Manage framework design partners and specialist subcontractors to ensure deliverables are produced on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
• Lead and promote technically robust and innovative design solutions that meet client requirements and project objectives.
• Deliver projects in accordance with both company and Welsh Water Capital Delivery Framework design management processes.
• Plan, coordinate and manage the design process through all gateway and approval stages.
• Lead design reviews, workshops and multidisciplinary coordination meetings.
• Challenge project briefs and drive innovation, value engineering and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Develop and manage design scopes of service for consultants and subcontractors.
• Produce and maintain fully integrated design programmes.
• Monitor, manage and report design progress against programme milestones.
• Coordinate activities between designers, contractors, clients, statutory bodies and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure design risks, changes and project interfaces are effectively managed and controlled.
• Work closely with Project Managers to ensure changes are properly assessed, authorised and implemented.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant regulations, standards, specifications and customer requirements.
• Support the successful transition of projects from design through to construction and final handover.

Essential Experience

What We're Looking For

• Proven Design Management experience across multiple infrastructure or construction projects.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams, consultants and subcontractors.
• Ability to coordinate and deliver multiple projects concurrently at different stages of design and development.
• Strong understanding of design management processes, project gateways and programme management.
• Experience leading design reviews and stakeholder coordination meetings.
• Excellent planning, organisation and time management skills.
• Ability to ensure standards, specifications and quality requirements are consistently achieved.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with clients, design partners and project teams.
• Sound understanding of construction practices, buildability and project delivery requirements.

Desirable Experience

• Experience delivering projects within the water industry.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment, sewer networks and water infrastructure projects.
• Experience operating within framework environments and collaborative delivery models.
• Specialist knowledge of water sector standards, regulations and engineering practices.
• Experience of Design & Build project delivery.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Membership of a relevant Professional Institution (ICE, CIWEM, IMechE, IET or equivalent).

Systems & Software

Experience using:

• Microsoft Office Suite
• CEMAR
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Common design management and document control systems

Key Competencies

• Design management leadership
• Programme and project coordination
• Stakeholder management
• Technical problem-solving
• Innovation and continuous improvement
• Team leadership and collaboration
• Commercial awareness
• Risk and change management
• Quality and compliance focus
• Effective communication and influencing skills

What is in it for you?

Below is a selection of benefits that are available to you at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure.

• Generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy five days.
• Flexible and adaptable working
• Family friendly policies and work/life approach
• Mentoring programmes and continuous learning support
• Contributory pension scheme
• Annual bonus scheme
• Recognition scheme and long service awards
• Car scheme and Private Medical Insurance (if applicable to role)
• We also provide the option to participate in our share-save scheme; discounts including cycle to work and gym membership; a support and advice service for colleagues and their families, and more.

About The Water Aviation And Highways Business Unit

Our Water team designs, builds, and maintains vital UK water infrastructure, ensuring secure water supply and wastewater services.

We work with major water companies to create resilient facilities, reduce flood risks, and improve environmental outcomes. Currently, we participate in the Welsh Water AMP7 and AMP8 frameworks and have secured projects with Wessex Water for the next five years. These long-term framework agreements are part of a national £88 billion investment, requiring a collaborative and agile approach to meet the industry's challenges.

We are also actively bidding works with Other Water and Environment Frameworks.

Our Highways team delivers comprehensive services, from major national projects to local schemes, improving road journeys for millions daily.

With expertise in tunnelling, bridges, and more, we provide end-to-end project support, including design, integration, and construction. Current projects include concrete road replacements for National Highways and the Scheme Delivery Framework again for National Highways.

Our Aviation Business has secured a new Framework with Gatwick Airport and looking for other opportunities.

Morgan Sindall is an equal opportunities employer and has been accredited with the Positive About Disabled People ‘Two Ticks’ accreditation. We are also an Investors in People company.

Morgan Sindall is unable to employ anyone who does not have the legal right to live and work in the UK.