Design Manager (Project Engineer)

United Utilities; Samlesbury; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days leave

Pension up to 14% employer contrib

Bonus 10.5%

Healthcare

Hybrid working

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking a Design Manager / Project Engineer to lead design across water network and process projects in Lancashire and Cumbria. You will work with internal teams and external consultants to progress studies, requirements, and through-life delivery.

Base location will be in Lancashire or Cumbria with hybrid working. You will develop design plans, manage budgets, and mentor teams while ensuring safety and CDM compliance throughout the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading project engineering management initiatives.
• Strong communication with stakeholders to develop solutions.
• Knowledge of health, safety and CDM requirements for delivery.
• Engineering degree or equivalent qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead design development for safe-to-build and operate solutions.
• Collaborate with PMs and consultants to deliver outcomes.
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams and budgets across projects.
• Write contract docs and support governance reporting.
• Drive risk management and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Leadership of projects

Communication skills

Health, safety & wellbeing

CDM knowledge

Education

Degree in Engineering

HNC / HND in Engineering

Job description

The role:

As Design Manager / Project Engineer, you’ll lead and coordinate the design process across a range of infrastructure and non-infrastructure (Water Network and Water Process) projects. Working closely with internal teams and external consultants, you’ll take the projects from requirement (often involving studies many years ahead of the intervention) through to completion and supporting in through life management of the capital delivery phase.

The role is covering Water projects in Lancashire and Cumbria, base location will be within one of these counties.

What you’ll do:

• Leading the development of designs which are safe to build and operate.
• Work collaboratively with the Project Manager (PM) to jointly deliver project outcomes
• People management in a project environment, where formal line management does not exist.
• Engaging with consultants and specialist including procurement of the same
• Being the champion for the project within the business and from time to time representing the business externally
• Positively support the transition of new ways of working across the community
• Building and maintaining relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
• As required, to deputise for Senior Project Engineer (SPE) or Delivery Manager (DM)
• Develop and maintaining proactive empathetic enduring relationships and creating a healthy, inclusive and diverse environment for their teams to flourish
• Responsible for delivering the project(s) through the asset lifecycle in accordance with approved processes and systems.
• Developing the project engineering plan from client brief (requirements statement) through to handover.
• Delivery to time, cost, carbon and quality drivers.
• Carry out project reviews, recommend / take action as appropriate and report on a monthly basis
• Responsible for writing contract documentation (e.g. NEC3’s “Employers Works Information”) or other technical reports and acting as the single point of contact for technical audit throughout the lifecycle
• Managing project budget including contributing to the writing and presenting business cases at corporate governance group where required
• Risk management to drive the delivery of opportunities or threat reduction, including adequate escalation of issues outside of your control
• Securing resources and managing multi-disciplinary teams across the matrix organisation
• Act as the Principal Designer under CDM

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience of leadership of projects in a project engineering management role, including the ability to integrate input from different technical areas and other departments
• Proven communication skills with an ability to engage with stakeholders and colleagues to develop solutions to complex problems
• Proven experience of health, safety and well-being requirements relating to delivery of projects (e.g. CDM Principal Designer or Client roles)
• Degree level Engineering qualification, or lesser engineering qualification (e.g. HNC / HND) plus equivalent skills, knowledge and experience
• Member of Association for Project Management (APM) or suitable equivalent professional membership.
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer grade or a plan to work towards.

What we offer:

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• A 10.5% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working

About United Utilities:

United Utilities’ (UU) mission is to deliver high-quality water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society. We are proud to be ranked #11 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.