Design Manager

COSTAIN GROUP; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure solutions provider in the UK is seeking a Design Manager to oversee design delivery for water projects. The role requires a civil engineering background with experience in either mechanical, electrical, or civil disciplines. Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with quality standards, managing design information flow, and leading design teams. Ideal candidates will have strong communication, organizational skills, and experience with NEC4 contracts. This position is based in the West Midlands and supports a collaborative working environment.

Qualifications

• Civil engineering qualification and practical delivery experience.
• Minimum of SMSTS and CSCS qualifications required.
• Previous experience of management on complex/sensitive programmes.
• Practical experience working with NEC4 contracts.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with The Costain Way gates & controls for design commissions.
• Control flow of information and manage communication between parties.
• Prepare design scopes and manage design risk throughout the process.
• Hold design meetings and coordinate design reviews.

Skills

Good organisational skills

Effective communication

Stakeholder management

Driving licence

Positive and proactive attitude

Education

Civil engineering qualification

Chartered Engineer (desirable)

Tools

NEC4 contracts

Job description

Job Description

Costain have won extensive work across the water sector this year to support the AMP8 investment cycle. We have been appointed by Severn Trent Water to help shape and deliver its Capital Delivery Framework as part of its capital programme for the AMP8 period between 2025 – 2030. As part of the Design and Build Framework lot, Costain brings together its design, construction, and consultancy expertise to undertake renewal and refurbishment projects and will assist Severn Trent in its target to make continuous improvements to its safety performance, whilst ensuring continuity of supply and consequently lowering costs for its customers.

Reporting to the Principal Design Manager you will be responsible for the design delivery of water projects.

You will have experience working within the water sector, in either Mechanical, Electrical ICA or Civils disciplines in maintenance, design, or capital delivery roles. You should be a motivated team player, with the ability to work collaboratively with multiple teams to deliver production thinking carbon efficient design solutions.

You should also demonstrate a thorough understanding of design delivery, design procurement, design management, design control, quality assurance, BIM to ISO 19650 and have a working knowledge of the NEC4 suite of contracts.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with The Costain Way gates & controls for design commissions within your control
• Control flow of information between parties to ensure relevant information is available to the relevant teams at the right time, including supply chain partners
• Prepare design scopes and agree deliverable requirements in collaboration with relevant teams
• Co‑ordination of reporting aligned to the Framework requirements and agreed KPIs
• Management of the allocated design partner and project teams to delivery against agreed design deliverables, programmes & budgets
• Hold and record regular design meetings to actively manage progress and coordination
• Co‑ordinate and manage design risk, buildability, carbon and DfMA workshops (amongst others)
• Liaise closely with other members of the team to support package procurement and any respective supply chain partners
• Work closely with commercial team to ensure engagement with supply chain partners to support the design development with timely provision of design information
• Ensuring design compliance with Client, industry and Costain standards; ensuring necessary derogations are secured as required. Challenge design solutions to ensure a safe, efficient and buildable design, considering DfMA and low carbon solutions which meet the Client's affordability challenges
• Coordination and recording of design reviews, technical assurance reviews and CDM reviews
• Ensure design is implemented and managed aligned to the project BIM strategy
• Be conversant with current legislation, especially that which applies to health and safety, which is relevant to tasks being carried out
• Promote the business in a professional manner to both external and internal persons or organisations
• Maintain and grow professional working relationships with the design team, delivery team, commercial team, and employer team and communicate well with them

Qualifications

Essential

• Civil engineering qualification and practical delivery experience
• SMSTS
• CSCS
• Driving licence
• Good organisational skills
• Effective communication and strong stakeholder management skills
• Passionate about improving performance in the sector through best practice, process improvements and continuous improvement practices
• Able to work and learn quickly in a fast paced, fun and dynamic environment.
• Previous experience of management on complex / sensitive programmes
• Practical experience working with NEC 4 contracts
• A positive and proactive attitude

Desirable

• Experience of water industry working
• Chartered Engineer of a relevant institution

About Us

Costain helps to improve people's lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK's energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK's leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future‑shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do.

Costain appreciate the time and effort taken when applying for one of our positions but, due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to provide individual feedback on candidates at application phase. We do share individual feedback following an interview.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.

It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high‑volume, seasonal and high‑peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non‑disabled people.

For more details please go to the Disability Confident website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign