Design Manager (Water Projects)

WSP Global Inc.; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP Global Inc. is seeking a Design Manager to lead design projects within the Water sector, working alongside the Project Director and Project Manager to ensure compliant, high‑quality delivery.

You will manage resources, schedules, and budgets from concept through to completion, coordinating with internal teams, external clients, and site colleagues. A commitment to Safety by Design and UK CDM regulations is essential for success.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or numerate science is required.
• Chartered status or working towards is expected.
• Experience delivering complex infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety standards and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead design management for mid-scale and complex projects.
• Ensure health, safety, environmental and quality compliance.
• Manage client relationships and coordinate with engineering teams.
• Lead client and project meetings, reporting on progress, financials, and technical challenges.
• Drive Safety by Design and ensure compliance with UK CDM regulations.
• Coordinate across internal and external disciplines to deliver projects.

Skills

Project management

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Health & safety compliance

Design management

Education

MEng/BEng/BSc or HND/HNC in Engineering/Environmental/numerate science

Job description

What if you could shape a career as unique as you?

At WSP, you can always find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and chances to work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons.

We have a number of opportunities for Design Managers to join our Water team supporting on key projects in our Asset Design discipline.

A little more about your role…

As a Design Manager at WSP you will lead and manage design projects within the Water sector. Working alongside the Project Director and Project Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing engineering design work and ensuring compliance with best practices and UK regulations.

At WSP, our Design Managers are adaptable in various situations and possess an innovative mindset, willing to take on new challenges and are comfortable in working within significant and complex projects or programmes of work. We collaborate closely with external Clients and with internal multi-disciplinary project teams and, to deliver most effectively, we utilise WSP offices, Client offices and/or site locations to deliver programmes of strategic regional and national importance.

With WSP you have the exceptional opportunity to take the next step in your career, build on your experience and qualifications and achieve your ambitions. We offer excellent support in personal development and growth as part of our local teams and across the wider WSP business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead design management for mid-scale and complex projects, managing resources, timelines, and budgets from concept through to completion.
• Ensure projects comply with health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Manage client relationships and collaborate with engineering teams to deliver effective, integrated solutions.
• Lead client and project meetings, reporting on progress, financials, and addressing technical challenges.
• Drive "Safety by Design" practices and ensure compliance with UK CDM (Construction Design & Management) Regulations.
• Ensuring clear communication through collaborating effectively with both internal WSP teams and external stakeholders to support the delivery of projects.
• Facilitating and leading any discussions in Design Team Meetings (DTMs), taking clear and concise minutes and ensuring timely completion of actions by the design team.
• Ensuring project delivery processes are consistently improved and implemented, e.g. change control. Coordinating relevant disciplines through target led workshops, enabling critical design issues to be resolved in a timely manner.
• Dealing with RFIs, early warnings, and general communications to reduce project risk and ensure a successful project delivery.
• Analysing, processing, and responding to design transmittals consisting of drawings, specifications, reports, and other project related documents.
• Reviewing and evaluating quotations to ensure they align with the project’s scope, budget and client requirements.
• Managing changes and delays that have affected the project and ensuring these are resolved or mitigated accordingly.
• Updating the design delivery programme, resource, and instructions. Have a thorough understanding of project scope and design responsibility.
• Itemising scope of services, client briefing schedules, documentation and regular assessment against industry standards to help ensure a better set of deliverables.
• Instigate efficiency, appropriate use of innovation, buildability whilst factoring the different design stages with the wider design team.
• Understanding of the design process, roles and responsibilities and be able to coordinate across all disciplines internal and external, ensuring quality and add overall value to the project.
• Multiple package delivery responsibility and team management, reporting to Senior Project Leads.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• MEng/BEng/BSc or HND/HNC in an Engineering, Environmental or numerate science related subject.
• A member of an appropriate professional institute (Chartered or working towards)
• Experience in an infrastructure programme and project delivery environment, with experience of delivering complex projects
• Significant experience in Project and contract management including knowledge of H&S standards and regulations

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself?