Design Manager - Water Sector

Stantec UK Careers; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / flexible working

Private medical insurance

Competitive salary

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a Design Manager to lead multi-disciplinary delivery of water projects for Scottish Water, from concept to detailed design. Based in Glasgow with hybrid working, you will partner with the Project Manager to ensure best value and service excellence.

You will oversee design and build projects across civils, mechanical, electrical and process disciplines, coordinating internal teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Passion for solving engineering problems and ability to lead through challenging solutions.
• Chartered status desirable (ICE).

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver water projects from concept to detailed design.
• Plan and lead the technical delivery of major projects alongside the Project Manager.
• Oversee delivery across design and build projects, detailed design and owner's engineer services.
• Collaborate with clients to deliver best value and service excellence.
• Draw on Stantec's global expert network to deliver leading-edge designs.

Skills

Civil, mechanical, electrical design

Multidisciplinary leadership

Project and stakeholder management

Problem solving and leadership

Education

Chartered status desirable

Job description

Design Manager - Water Sector, Glasgow.

Scottish Water is about to invest £8.1bn in its network, the biggest programme in its history. Stantec is one of just two Primary Designers chosen to deliver it.

This landmark partnership, which potentially extends to 2039, secures meaningful work from our Glasgow office. Not one project. Not one framework cycle. A pipeline of water and wastewater schemes that will shape how Scotland lives for a generation. This major framework success anchors our exceptional performance across the UK for the AMP8 regulatory cycle, where we have secured exciting new project wins and solidified our standing as the number 1 design consultancy in the regulated water sector.

Most engineers get one programme like this in a career. We're building the team now, and the people who join early get to shape how it runs.

Learn more about careers with impact, right here in Scotland

Your Impact

As a Design Manager, you will be the technical lead, working alongside the Project Manager to ensure we deliver best value and service excellence. You will play a key role in ensuring the successful delivery of major projects, bringing together skillsets from multiple disciplines.

You will oversee all aspects of delivery, holding roles that may include delivery of design & build projects, detailed design delivery and owners engineer services, all requiring complex multi-disciplinary collaboration both internally and externally.

You'll be responsible for planning and leading the technical delivery of projects, collaborating closely with clients, and guiding your multidisciplinary team every step of the way. You'll also have direct access to our world-class global network of experts, providing you with the tools and knowledge to deliver leading-edge designs.

About the Role

As a Design Manager you will not just be drawing up plans, you will be leading them. You will lead a talented team to deliver water projects for Scottish Water from initial concept to detailed design, creating a collaborative environment where new ideas are welcomed. The role is based in our Edinburgh office with hybrid working.

You will be the technical lead, working alongside the Project Manager to deliver best value and service excellence on major projects. You will bring together skills from multiple disciplines and oversee all aspects of delivery, which may include design and build projects, detailed design delivery and owner's engineer services.

You will work across clean water, wastewater, flood risk and urban drainage, partnering with major clients across the UK and helping to influence the future of the industry.

You will have direct access to our global network of experts, giving you the tools and knowledge to deliver leading-edge designs. We have opportunities at different levels of seniority, so if you are looking to develop your leadership career we will support you on that journey.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver water projects from concept to detailed design.
• Plan and lead the technical delivery of major projects alongside the Project Manager.
• Oversee delivery across design and build projects, detailed design and owner's engineer services.
• Bring together skills from civils, mechanical, electrical, process and other disciplines into coordinated solutions.
• Work closely with clients to deliver best value and service excellence.
• Manage complex collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
• Create an environment where your team can innovate and grow.
• Draw on Stantec's global expert network to deliver leading-edge designs.

About You

Essential

• An experienced engineer with strong technical expertise in civils, mechanical and electrical, process or another relevant discipline.
• Demonstrable experience leading and managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders at the same time.
• A passion for solving engineering problems, the ability to lead and inspire, and the confidence to drive through challenging solutions.

Desirable

• Chartered with a relevant engineering institution. Support can be given to achieve this if required.
• Previous experience of major projects.
• Experience in the water sector or an adjacent regulated sector such as energy, rail, utilities or nuclear.

Why Join Stantec

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work for by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named 'Best Place to Work' and 'International Consulting Firm of the Year' at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups).
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK and we want you to be part of it!
• Great benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection and life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Hybrid / flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.