Design Manager, Highways & Roads Projects

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Thrive wellbeing programme

Chartership support

Job summary

WSP seeks a Design Manager with extensive postgraduate experience to lead highway scheme design across major UK projects. The role covers managing multi-disciplinary teams and coordinating design deliverables to meet scope, budget, and schedule.

The position is based in the UK with hybrid work options and professional development support. You will drive design quality, ensure compliance with standards, and develop strong stakeholder relationships with clients and internal teams across the WSP

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or a relevant discipline.
• Chartered Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Significant experience in managing and leading multi-disciplinary design teams to deliver high quality solutions on time and to budget.
• Proven ability to apply the principles of the CDM Regulations to projects to achieve safety during construction, operation and maintenance.
• Experience of D&B or similar contractual arrangements.
• Familiarity with NEC form of contract.
• Thorough understanding of the DMRB, MCHW, familiarity with TSRGD and Manual for Streets would also be beneficial.
• Experience with major UK clients in a design consultancy environment.
• Ability to develop and manage customer and stakeholder relationships, through effective listening and influencing skills.
• Contract management experience and/or accreditations would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Drive clear communication across internal teams and external stakeholders, chairing design team meetings and ensuring actions are completed.
• Identifying and managing design risks.
• Support co-ordination and resolution of technical queries in context of cost and programme and proactively manage change control through clear understanding of scope and design responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards and legislation, including: DMRB, MCHW, TSRGD, Manual for Streets; British Standards and Eurocodes; CDM Regulations 2015; Environmental and planning conditions.
• Coordinate design reviews, clash detection, value engineering, and independent checks (e.g. CAT 2 / CAT 3 where required).
• Ensure designs are suitable for construction, maintenance, and operation.
• Strengthen project management processes, manage RFIs, technical transmittals and change control, and proactively mitigate risks and delays.
• Review design information, quotations, and technical documentation to ensure alignment with scope, budget, and client expectations.
• Maintain accurate project records, update delivery programmes, and promote efficiency, innovation, and buildability across all design stages.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Contract management

CDM knowledge

Stakeholder management

NEC contracts

DMRB/MCHW/TSRGD knowledge

UK client experience

Relationship building

Problem solving

Work under pressure

Education

Bachelors in Civil Engineering

Chartered engineer

Job description

WSP seeks a Design Manager with extensive postgraduate experience to lead highway scheme design across major UK projects. The role covers managing multi-disciplinary teams and coordinating design deliverables to meet scope, budget, and schedule.

The position is based in the UK with hybrid work options and professional development support. You will drive design quality, ensure compliance with standards, and develop strong stakeholder relationships with clients and internal teams across the WSP