Design Manager

First Recruitment Group; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

First Recruitment Group is seeking a Design Manager to lead the design delivery of major water infrastructure projects in the UK. The role is contract-based with hybrid working in Newcastle.

The successful candidate will manage multidisciplinary design teams and partners, ensure NEC4, BIM ISO 19650 compliance, and deliver safe, buildable, low‑carbon solutions from concept to delivery.

Qualifications

• Civil Engineering qualification with practical delivery experience.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for improving performance through best practice and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design delivery of major water infrastructure projects.
• Manage multidisciplinary design teams and design partners.
• Drive safe, buildable, low-carbon engineering solutions.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, quality requirements and governance procedures.
• Support design activities from concept through delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Change implementation

Education

Civil Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer

Tools

NEC4 contracts

BIM ISO 19650

SMSTS

CSCS Card

Driving Licence

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

Qualifications

• SMSTS.
• CSCS Card.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Sector: Commercial, Admin & Office Support