Design Manager (Civil Engineering Infrastructure)

Millbank Holdings; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is looking for a Design Manager to oversee civil engineering projects, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. The role offers a competitive salary of £70,000 - £80,000 plus car allowance. Responsibilities include leading design teams, managing complex infrastructure projects, and interfacing with stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a degree in civil engineering, significant design management experience, and strong leadership skills. This is an opportunity to contribute to major infrastructure developments.

Benefits

Car Allowance

Competitive Salary

Equal Opportunities Employer

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline; Chartered Engineer (CEng) status preferred.
• Significant experience managing civil engineering design for major infrastructure projects.
• Experience working in regulated environments (nuclear, defence, rail, energy, etc.) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary design teams through all project stages.
• Ensure compliance with nuclear site standards and relevant civil engineering codes.
• Act as the primary design interface with clients and regulatory bodies.
• Champion safety culture across design activities.

Skills

Project Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Structural Design

Geotechnics

Drainage

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Job Specification: Design Manager - Civil Engineering (Infrastructure)
Location: Sellafield
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000
Car Allowance - £6350
Contract Type: Permanent
Industry: Civil Engineering / Nuclear Infrastructure

Company Overview: Our client has secured a major long-term framework as the civils delivery partner on a high-profile nuclear site. The contract—valued at up to £595 million—covers the design, engineering, and delivery of essential non-nuclear civil infrastructure to support ongoing nuclear operations and decommissioning activity. As part of this significant programme, we are recruiting an experienced Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design activities across a diverse portfolio of civil engineering works.

Role Purpose: The Design Manager will oversee the technical delivery of complex civil infrastructure designs, ensuring all engineering outputs meet regulatory, safety, and quality standards required on a nuclear-licensed site. The role will provide leadership across design teams, coordinate interfaces with engineering partners, and support the delivery of foundations, bridges, structures, and associated civil assets.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary design teams through all project stages—from concept and feasibility through to detailed design and construction support.
• Ensure that all designs comply with nuclear site standards, CDM regulations, and all relevant civil engineering codes.
• Oversee design governance, technical assurance, and internal/external design reviews.
• Develop and maintain the Design Management Plan, design schedule, and key deliverables.

Technical Delivery

• Foundations and substructures
• Bridges and elevated structures
• Earthworks, retaining structures, and utilities
• Temporary works and access/haul road infrastructure
• Ensure all engineering outputs are accurate, coordinated, and fully integrated with other engineering disciplines and construction requirements.
• Manage design risk, buildability assessments, and value engineering opportunities.

Stakeholder & Interface Management

• Act as the primary design interface with the client, contractors, and regulatory bodies on technical matters.
• Coordinate with nuclear operations, decommissioning teams, and non-nuclear infrastructure stakeholders to ensure requirements are aligned.
• Support technical meetings, workshops, and design reviews with project partners and supply chain.

Quality, Safety, and Compliance

• Champion a strong safety culture across design activities.
• Ensure all design processes align with nuclear safety, quality assurance systems, and project governance frameworks.
• Support compliance documentation, technical submissions, and engineering records.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline; Chartered Engineer (CEng) status preferred.
• Significant experience managing civil engineering design for major infrastructure projects.
• Previous experience working within regulated environments (nuclear, defence, rail, energy, or similar) is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of structural design, geotechnics, drainage, and temporary/permanent works.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams and managing design supply chains.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.

Eligibility

Ideally a full British passport holder, may consider British dual nationals.

Security Clearance

Must be able to gain Baseline Security (BS) clearance initially and eventually develop Security Check (SC) clearance.

Millbank Holdings Ltd is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background, and encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, and we are committed to ensuring an accessible and supportive recruitment process for everyone. If you require any adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate.