Design Manager

Randstad Construction & Property; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad CPE is seeking a Design Manager to lead a multidisciplinary engineering team delivering potable water projects across the UK. You will guide design strategy, champion sustainability, and steer a major capital investment programme.

You will manage 15–20 engineers, oversee full lifecycle plans, and ensure health, safety and CDM compliance while integrating subcontractor designs. Strong leadership and water-industry experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience within the water industry, with potable water or non-infrastructure schemes.
• Engineering degree and chartered status or working towards it.
• Leadership style that enables experimentation and development.
• Thorough understanding of CDM regulations and design risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 15–20 engineers across water and related projects.
• Oversee full lifecycle engineering plans: scope, cost, risk, resources, delivery schedules.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier design integration with safety and CDM compliance.
• Drive sustainability and digital tool adoption across designs.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Water industry experience

CDM compliance

Design management

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered status or working towards

Job description

About this Role

As a Design Manager, you will lead a multidisciplinary engineering team delivering vital potable water infrastructure projects across the UK. You will guide design strategy, champion sustainable solutions, and help steer our team through an exciting and transformative new capital investment programme.

• Lead and empower a team of 15 to 20 engineers across diverse potable water and non-infrastructure projects.

• Oversee full-lifecycle engineering project plans spanning scope, cost, risk, resources, and delivery schedules.

• Manage subcontractor and supplier design integration while keeping health, safety, and CDM compliance at the forefront.

• Drive sustainable practices across all designs, reducing carbon impact and embedding new digital tools.

About You

You are a collaborative engineering leader who thrives on bringing out the best in multidisciplinary technical teams. Whether you are fully Chartered or building towards chartership, your practical background in water industry projects makes you a great fit for this role.

• Proven experience within the water industry, with a strong focus on potable water treatment or non-infrastructure schemes.

• An engineering degree, alongside Chartered status or an active commitment to working towards it.

• A supportive leadership style that encourages experimentation, innovation, and personal team development.

• Thorough understanding of CDM regulations and a practical approach to design risk management.

About Us

Built on strong family values, our organisation brings people together to deliver essential infrastructure that supports communities nationwide. As an accredited Gold Investor in People and recognised top UK employer, we take genuine pride in creating an inclusive, supportive workplace.

• Long-term career stability supported by a substantial pipeline of secured framework contracts.

• A workplace culture that actively celebrates diverse backgrounds, fresh perspectives, and team well-being.

• A direct delivery model focused on robustly training, retaining, and championing our people.

• High-profile collaborative environment working alongside industry-leading infrastructure partners.

About Your Future

We believe in supporting your career journey for the long haul through clear progression routes and structured development. You will receive a total compensation package designed to support your health, financial security, and personal life.

• Competitive salary paired with tailored leadership coaching, mentoring, and professional chartership support.

• Comprehensive medical benefits, life assurance, and a confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

• Flexible benefits via salary sacrifice, plus company car, green car scheme, or allowance options.

• Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays, loyalty days, and dedicated paid volunteering time.

Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.