Design Manager - Water Infrastructure - Civil Engineering

Fawkes & Reece Group; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car and fuel card

Private healthcare

Pension

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece Group in the South of England and across the UK is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the design and technical delivery of water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

You'll oversee multidisciplinary teams, drive innovative, compliant designs, and ensure seamless handover from design to construction. This role offers exposure to AMP8 projects and a chance to shape critical UK water infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Experience leading design teams on water and wastewater projects.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to manage design programmes, budgets, risks.
• Experience with regulatory and health & safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams across projects.
• Manage design delivery of pumping stations and networks.
• Ensure designs meet standards and client specs.
• Oversee design programmes, resources, budgets, risks.
• Act as technical contact between clients and teams.
• Drive innovation and low-carbon solutions.
• Review deliverables and maintain quality.
• Mentor engineers and designers.
• Oversee design approvals and handover.
• Coordinate with framework leadership for resources.

Skills

Leadership

Design management

Water infrastructure

Stakeholder coordination

Regulatory compliance

Mentoring engineers

Job description

Location: South of England | National Opportunities

Are you an experienced Design Manager looking to lead innovative engineering projects that make a lasting difference to communities and the environment?

We're looking for talented Design Managers to support the delivery of major clean and wastewater infrastructure projects across the UK. With a growing portfolio of projects planned for AMP8 and beyond, this is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of complex designs, lead multidisciplinary teams, and help shape the future of the UK's water infrastructure.

The Role

As Design Manager, you'll lead the design and technical delivery of water and wastewater infrastructure projects, ensuring solutions are safe, compliant, commercially viable, and aligned with client and operational requirements.

Working closely with project delivery teams, clients, contractors, and external stakeholders, you'll oversee the full design lifecycle, from initial concept through to construction and final handover.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams across multiple projects.
• Managing the design delivery of clean and wastewater infrastructure, including pumping stations, water and sewer networks, and associated assets.
• Ensuring designs meet relevant industry standards, regulatory requirements, health and safety legislation, and client specifications.
• Managing design programmes, resources, budgets, technical risks, and change control.
• Acting as the key technical point of contact between clients, engineering teams, contractors, and operational stakeholders.
• Driving innovation, sustainability, and low-carbon engineering solutions.
• Reviewing and approving technical deliverables, maintaining design quality and governance throughout.
• Mentoring and developing engineers and designers, supporting the growth of technical capability across the team.
• Overseeing design approvals and ensuring a smooth transition from design into construction and handover.
• Working with framework leadership to ensure the right design capability and resources are available to meet contract requirements.

About You

We're keen to hear from Design Managers with experience in the water, wastewater, utilities, or wider infrastructure sectors.

You'll bring strong technical knowledge, excellent leadership and communication skills, and the ability to coordinate complex design activities while balancing programme, cost, quality, and safety.

You'll be comfortable working with a range of stakeholders, managing competing priorities, and identifying opportunities to improve design efficiency and delivery. A passion for developing people, embracing innovation, and delivering sustainable infrastructure will be key to your success.

What's on Offer?

You'll be joining a collaborative and forward-thinking organisation where technical excellence, professional development, and employee wellbeing are priorities.

Benefits include:

• Company car and fuel card, with a choice of electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Salary sacrifice electric and hybrid vehicle scheme.
• Private healthcare and a healthcare cash plan.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Discretionary bonus scheme.
• Contributory pension scheme and life assurance.
• 24/7 online GP service and employee assistance programme.
• Access to thousands of retail discounts through a rewards portal.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Cycle-to-work, salary finance, and charitable giving schemes.
• Reward and recognition initiatives.
• Ongoing training, professional development, and career progression opportunities.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering essential infrastructure that supports communities, protects the environment, and improves the resilience of vital water services.

You'll be part of a supportive, inclusive team that values collaboration, accountability, ambition, and fresh thinking. With a strong pipeline of infrastructure investment and opportunities to work on technically challenging projects, you'll have the platform to make an impact and progress your career.

If you're ready to lead engineering excellence, develop talented teams, and help deliver the next generation of sustainable water infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.