Design Manager – Water Company

Waterman Aspen; Bristol, Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contribution to commuting mileage

Permanent health insurance

25 days annual leave

Company pension contribution

1 paid community volunteering day

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is seeking a Design Manager to join the Water and Environment South team. The role involves managing the design programme for wastewater infrastructure projects, ensuring timely delivery while focusing on safety and sustainability. The ideal candidate will have a relevant engineering degree, proven leadership experience, and strong project management skills. The successful applicant will receive a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including health insurance and flexible leave options.

Qualifications

• Chartered or working toward Chartership in engineering.
• Experience in collaborative delivery frameworks.
• Knowledge of Net Zero Carbon design principles.

Responsibilities

• Manage the design programme and ensure timely delivery aligned with project milestones.
• Ensure designs focus on safety and sustainability.
• Motivate multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Proven experience in leading the design of wastewater infra and/or non-infra projects

Strong understanding of water industry standards

Excellent coordination and project management skills

Effective communicator

Strong leadership ability

Education

Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental Engineering or related discipline

Chartered or working toward Chartership (ICE, IMechE, CIWEM, etc.)

Tools

Digital delivery tools such as BIM360

Job description

Salary: Dependent on experience, skills and location

Waterman Aspen welcomes engineers and technical specialists to make their mark by working on some of the biggest infrastructure projects or in delivering professional services across the UK on a secondment basis.Our diverse client base includes local authorities, consultancies, public bodies and construction companies.

We specialise in providing the right people, with the right skills for the job, at the right time – for as long as our clients need them.

We are proud of how much we value and support our colleagues – taking people from the very start of their careers to Chartered status and beyond. We’re a people-centric organisation, placing mutual respect and dignity in the highest regard. This is reflected in our approach to issues such as mental health and wellbeing, family friendly policies, social value, and net zero. We’re a Disability Confident Employer and an accredited Real Living Wage Employer.

We have big ambitions for the future, and we’d love for you to be part of it.

You’ll get all the benefits of being employed by us, while working on a variety of projects for our clients. Joining Waterman Aspen as a Design Manager will see you as a key member of the Water and Environment South team and you can expect:

• A varied client base where you can apply and develop your skills
• Buy-in from clients to assist in your technical progression
• Further exposure to your chosen industry – increasing your awareness, knowledge and sharpening your skills
• Career development and training to reach your professional or academic qualification goals supported by our own network of mentors and managers
• Paid subscription to a professional body of your choice
• Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental Engineering or related discipline.
• Chartered or working toward Chartership (ICE, IMechE, CIWEM, etc.).
• Proven experience in leading the design of wastewater infra and/or non-infra projects.
• Strong understanding of water industry standards, codes of practice, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience working within AMP (Asset Management Plan) cycles for UK Water Companies.
• Familiarity with NEC3/4 contract frameworks and design delivery in a D&B or consultancy environment.
• Manage the design programme and ensure timely delivery aligned with project milestones.
• Ensure that designs are developed with a strong focus on safety (CDM Regulations), operational maintainability, buildability, and sustainability.
• Excellent coordination and project management skills.
• Strong leadership and ability to motivate multidisciplinary teams.
• Technical credibility with attention to detail.
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage with clients, contractors, and regulators.
• Skilled in managing design risks, interfaces, and quality assurance processes.
• Experience with digital delivery tools such as BIM360, ProjectWise, or similar.
• Working knowledge of Net Zero Carbon design principles and sustainability frameworks.
• Experience in collaborative delivery frameworks (e.g. alliances, joint ventures).

As a salaried colleague, you’ll get a salary in line with your experience, skills and location along with an industry-leading benefits package:

• Contribution to commuting mileage
• Permanent health insurance
• 25 days annual leave (option to buy up to 5 more), in addition to the normal public holidays (based on a 40 hour week, pro rata for part-time colleagues)
• Company pension contribution
• Salary sacrifice to buy additional benefits
• 1 paid Waterman Aspen in the Community Day to volunteer in your local community

We have big plans for the future and we’d love for you to be part of it. If you’re interested in joining our team of engineering and technical specialists, take a look at our latest opportunities here.

We find you opportunities that perfectly match your expertise and career aspirations, with industry-leading training, development, and support at your fingertips.

Our people are the most important part of our business – in fact, they are our business – and building successful careers is what we’re all about.

Don’t just take our word for it – find out what some of our colleagues have to say about their career with Waterman Aspen.