Design Manager (Roads)

WSP Global Inc.; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP Global Inc. in Bristol invites an experienced Design Manager with postgraduate industry exposure to lead highway schemes across the South West & Wales region.

You will chair design team meetings, manage scope, cost and programme, and drive buildability and safety from concept through to delivery. The role requires Chartered membership, a Civil Engineering degree, and a proven track record delivering multi-disciplinary design teams on major UK projects, with strong communication and

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or a relevant discipline is required.
• Chartered membership of a relevant professional body is expected.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work under pressure with competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Drive clear communication across internal teams and external stakeholders, chair design team meetings and ensure actions are completed.
• Identify and manage design risks.
• Support coordination and resolution of technical queries in context of cost and programme; manage change control with clear scope and design responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with standards including DMRB, MCHW, TSRGD, and CDM Regulations 2015.
• Coordinate design reviews, clash detection, value engineering and independent checks.
• Ensure designs are suitable for construction, maintenance and operation.
• Strengthen project management processes, manage RFIs and change control; mitigate risks and delays.
• Review design information, quotations and technical documentation for alignment with scope and client expectations.
• Maintain project records, update delivery programmes and promote buildability across design stages.

Skills

Civil engineering degree

Chartered membership

Communication skills

Leading multi-disciplinary teams

CDM Regulations

D&B contract experience

NEC contract familiarity

DMRB/MCHW/TSRGD/Manual for Streets

UK client experience

Stakeholder management

Curiosity and problem solving

Education

Civil Engineering degree

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

WSP are seeking an enthusiastic and Design Manager withextensive postgraduate experience in the management and delivery of a range of highway schemes, from complex, multi-disciplinary Design & Build schemes to smaller safety improvement and maintenance schemes. The role is within our high performing teambased in our Bristol Office, to work with colleagues in our South West & Wales region.If you are looking for a challenge and professional development within our talented team, then we would love to hear from you.

Typical projects delivered by our team include

• Major infrastructure with utilities and third‑party interfaces
• Highway improvement and widening schemes
• Safety improvement schemes
• Junction and corridor upgrades
• Bridges and structures over/under highways or rail
• Active travel and public realm schemes

Role Details:

• 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 though 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.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• 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. Ensuring residual risks are captured, managed and communicated throughout the project lifecycle.
• 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.
• Naturally curious, solution focussed and responsive to client problems.