Design Manager

Ceto Talent; Stretford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An engineering design consultancy in Greater Manchester is seeking a Design Manager for the Water Sector. In this hybrid role, you will lead the design process on projects, manage multidisciplinary teams, and develop engineers and CAD technicians. Strong experience in engineering design and excellent communication skills are essential. The position offers a salary between £60,000 and £80,000 per annum, along with a commitment to employee wellbeing and professional development.

Benefits

Employee benefits scheme

Workplace pension scheme

Training and development opportunities

Focus on mental and physical wellbeing

Qualifications

• Experience in the regulated water industry is desirable.
• Chartered Engineer status or working towards chartership is desirable.
• Proven experience building teams and developing capability of junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop engineers, CAD technicians and graduates.
• Lead the design process on multidisciplinary water industry projects.
• Ensure design deliverables satisfy safety and quality requirements.

Skills

Extensive experience in engineering design

Strong background managing multidisciplinary design teams

Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

Good level of IT proficiency

Education

Graduate or HND qualification in engineering

Tools

BIM software

3D modelling software

Job description

Design Manager - Water Sector
£60,000 - £80,000 per annum | Permanent | Greater Manchester (Hybrid)

What We're Looking For

• Extensive experience working in engineering design within a regulated sector such as water, rail, oil and gas, nuclear, highways or bridges
• Graduate or HND qualification in engineering
• Strong background managing multidisciplinary design teams and projects
• Proven experience building teams and developing capability of junior staff
• Results‑focused approach with strong technical knowledge
• Excellent communication and problem‑solving skills
• Good level of IT proficiency
• Driving licence and access to vehicle
• Chartered Engineer status or working towards chartership (desirable)
• Experience in the regulated water industry (desirable)

About the Role

This Design Manager – Water Sector position offers the chance to manage designers and design delivery across multidisciplinary teams within the water industry, ensuring time and quality expectations are met. You will work with a friendly and focused civil engineering design team with a growing work bank within both utilities and rail sectors.

As Design Manager – Water Sector, you will lead the design process on water industry projects, manage and develop engineers, CAD technicians and graduates, and grow the design team whilst maintaining a positive ethos. This role offers hybrid working with flexibility to work from home 1–2 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, direct and develop engineers, CAD technicians and graduates
• Grow the design team and maintain a positive ethos and attitude within the team
• Lead the design process on multidisciplinary water industry projects
• Challenge, improve and shape formal processes and procedures for the design team
• Identify and implement appropriate software packages, driving the use of BIM and 3D modelling where necessary
• Ensure the team produces design deliverables that satisfy safety and quality requirements and are fully integrated
• Ensure the team produces design deliverables within agreed timescales and hours
• Ensure the team uses appropriate standards, best practice and software tools
• Ensure project change for design packages is fully recorded
• Assist with estimating hours required for design packages

What's On Offer

• Salary: £60,000 – £80,000 per annum (dependent on experience and working arrangements)
• Contract: Permanent, full‑time
• Location: Greater Manchester with hybrid working (1–2 days per week from home). Occasional site visits with travel expenses paid
• Employee benefits scheme
• Workplace pension scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Safe, just and fair workplace with wellbeing as a core value
• Focus on mental and physical wellbeing of the team
• Growing work bank within utilities and rail
• Friendly and focused civil engineering design team

About the Company

Join an engineering design consultancy that works closely with a wide range of clients across multiple disciplines within the UK rail and utilities industries. Wellbeing is a core value, with a commitment to providing a safe, just and fair workplace that puts the mental and physical wellbeing of the team first.

How to Apply

If you're an experienced Design Manager – Water Sector with the leadership skills, technical knowledge and team development experience we're looking for, we want to hear from you.

Please apply now or contact Ceto Talent for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.

Ceto Talent is committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.