Design Manager - Civil Engineering - Nuclear

westlakesrecruit; Workington; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlakes Recruit is seeking a highly experienced Design and Engineering Manager in the UK to lead all design and engineering activities across the project lifecycle. You will provide technical leadership, ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, and manage multidisciplinary interfaces with clients and contractors.

The role requires strong leadership, experience in design governance, and ability to drive value while balancing risk and budget.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or relevant engineering discipline.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, design coordination, and engineering delivery.
• Working knowledge of contractual and commercial interfaces within engineering and design subcontract management.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and engineering reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and engineering management across the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate design planning and integrate engineering activities into construction programmes.
• Review designs for technical compliance, constructability, safety, and quality assurance.
• Maintain design governance, document control, and BIM execution procedures, with HSQE embedded.

Skills

Multidisciplinary design management

Stakeholder coordination

Engineering leadership

Change management

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

PowerBI

Job description

Role Purpose

To lead and manage all design and engineering activities and deliverables to ensure they are completed in accordance with the agreed project scope, programme, budget, contractual requirements, and governance processes. The role is responsible for ensuring safe, compliant, coordinated, and high-quality design delivery while providing technical leadership and support throughout all stages of the project lifecycle.

• Delivering design outputs on time and within budget, including successful completion of design reviews, stage gates, construction reviews, and hazard/risk reduction procedures.
• Providing technical leadership and engineering support to the project team.
• Ensuring health, safety, welfare, environmental, and quality considerations are embedded within all design activities and clearly communicated to construction and operational teams.

Core Values and Behaviours

Integrity

• Take pride in the quality of work delivered by both self and team members.
• Support colleagues in achieving individual and collective objectives.
• Promote an open and fair culture by encouraging constructive challenge, continuous improvement, and honest feedback.
• Respect and value the views and contributions of others.

Accountability

• Take ownership of responsibilities, performance, and professional development.
• Build collaborative working relationships that maximise team performance and project outcomes.
• Address underperformance appropriately while recognising and encouraging excellence.

Innovation

• Promote innovative engineering solutions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Encourage adoption of modern engineering methods, technologies, and best practices.
• Balance innovation with appropriate risk management.
• Support learning and knowledge-sharing across teams.

Delivery

• Take personal responsibility for delivering high-quality engineering services.
• Maintain a proactive and solution-focused approach.
• Foster strong working relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and effective teamwork.
• Recognise and respond to the differing priorities of clients, stakeholders, and project teams.

Sustainability

• Promote safe working practices and the wellbeing of all personnel.
• Communicate effectively and maintain strong stakeholder relationships.
• Support organisational adaptability and sustainable business practices.

Key Responsibilities

Design and Engineering Management

• Ensure all engineering processes, procedures, and governance requirements are implemented across the project.
• Manage project engineering procedures throughout the design lifecycle.
• Lead the planning, management, and delivery of all design deliverables in line with programme and budget requirements.
• Coordinate collaborative design planning and integrate engineering activities into construction programmes.
• Ensure compliance with contractual design approval processes and tender requirements.
• Manage design change procedures and minimise unintended technical or commercial impacts.
• Review designs for technical compliance, constructability, safety, and quality assurance.
• Ensure all design outputs comply with document control and BIM execution procedures.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical guidance and support to project teams.
• Promote engineering innovation, modern construction methodologies, and best practice in both permanent and temporary works.
• Lead and chair design reviews, interface meetings, and coordination workshops.
• Support hazard elimination and risk reduction through design development.

Stakeholder and Client Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for client design representatives and external stakeholders.
• Chair design interface meetings with clients, regulators, approval bodies, and external organisations.
• Maintain strong relationships with consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, and external stakeholders.
• Promote the organisation\'s engineering capability and best-value approach to clients and industry partners.

Commercial and Contractual Management

• Collaborate with commercial teams in the management of designers and design subcontractors.
• Support the selection, engagement, and performance management of external suppliers and consultants.
• Manage technical queries, RFIs, TQs, and NCRs to ensure timely resolution and communication.

Reporting and Governance

• Produce weekly and monthly engineering and design progress reports.
• Monitor and report on design performance, risks, deliverables, and programme status.
• Ensure compliance with quality management systems and project governance requirements.

Team Development and Leadership

• Support recruitment, mentoring, and development of engineering personnel at all levels.
• Assist engineers in achieving professional qualifications and career progression.
• Represent the organisation at universities, schools, and external industry events to support talent development and company profile.

Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

• Ensure HSQE requirements are embedded into all design and engineering activities.
• Promote safe-by-design principles and compliance with applicable legislation, standards, and procedures.
• Collaborate with the Principal Designer and relevant stakeholders to discharge statutory duties.

Qualifications, Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Degree in Civil Engineering or relevant engineering discipline.
• Minimum 3 years\' experience within civil engineering, design, or construction projects.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, design coordination, and engineering delivery.
• Working knowledge of contractual and commercial interfaces within engineering and design subcontract management.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and engineering reporting tools.
• Ability to manage multidisciplinary design activities and stakeholder interfaces.

Desirable

• SMSTS qualification.
• Incorporated Engineer status (IEng MICE/IET or equivalent).
• Experience within nuclear, regulated, or major infrastructure environments.
• Knowledge of Sellafield engineering procedures and gated processes.
• Familiarity with Project 13 principles and Get It Right initiatives.
• Experience using PowerBI and related reporting systems.

Additional Requirements

• Significant combined construction and design experience.
• Experience managing detailed design within a consultancy or contractor environment.
• Understanding of Principal Designer and Designer duties under CDM regulations.
• Ability to deputise for the Engineering Manager when required.
• Ability to work from nominated project offices a minimum of four days per week.

Authority and Decision-Making

• Authority to approve engineering proposals, certificates, and design deliverables in accordance with company policy and delegated authority limits.
• Responsibility for managing engineering compliance, design assurance, and technical approvals within the project engineering function.

Additional Duties

• Undertake any other duties consistent with the level and responsibilities of the role.
• Support wider business objectives, client engagement, and organisational development initiatives.
• Represent the business professionally in all internal and external interactions.