Design Manager – Water / Wastewater

Carmichael UK; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Carmichael UK is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the development and delivery of multidisciplinary wastewater designs, from early development through to construction. Starting January 2027, you will coordinate Civil, Mechanical and Electrical disciplines, drive value engineering and keep projects commercially viable and compliant.

You will work closely with clients, delivery teams and supply chain to ensure buildability and efficient delivery while maintaining rigorous design

Qualifications

• A relevant academic engineering qualification.
• Chartered status would be advantageous.
• Experience leading or coordinating engineering design in multidisciplinary environments.
• Experience with tier one contractors on major infrastructure projects.
• Strong QA/QC understanding of design processes.
• Experience delivering designs and tenders against programme, cost and quality objectives.
• Ability to collaborate with engineering, commercial, construction teams, clients and supply chain partners.
• Good commercial awareness around design budgets, forecasting and change control.
• Sound understanding of designer responsibilities under CDM Regulations.
• Proactive and adaptable, able to respond to evolving project requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams through wastewater engineering solutions from requirements to detailed design.
• Coordinate Civil, Mechanical and Electrical disciplines for integrated delivery.
• Apply value engineering to meet technical, affordability and project value goals.
• Identify and manage design risks and communicate issues across stakeholders.
• Collaborate with client, construction teams and supply chain to ensure buildability.
• Ensure designs comply with CDM Regulations and sustainability requirements.
• Maintain programme governance, procedures and design assurance processes.
• Take ownership of design budgets and forecast expenditure.
• Manage design changes and assess impacts on cost and schedule.
• Agree design expenditure and delivery programmes with Project Manager.
• Produce progress reporting and supporting commentary.
• Develop and maintain the Design Management Plan / Project Execution Plan.

Skills

Leadership

Design leadership

Value engineering

Risk management

Stakeholder liaison

CDM Regulations

Budget forecasting

Change control

Project planning

Progress reporting

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Design Manager to take responsibility for the development and delivery of multidisciplinary engineering designs across wastewater projects.

Commencing in January of 2027, this position will suit an engineering professional who can lead technical teams, coordinate effectively with delivery and commercial stakeholders, and ensure designs are practical, commercially viable, safe and compliant from early-stage development through to detailed design and construction.

Your responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams through the development of wastewater engineering solutions, from identifying project requirements and assessing options through to detailed design and construction support.
• Coordinate Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering disciplines to ensure designs are integrated and suitable for delivery.
• Challenge and develop solutions through value engineering, ensuring technical requirements are achieved while maintaining a strong focus on affordability and whole-project value.
• Identify and manage design-related risks, ensuring key issues are clearly communicated throughout project development.
• Work closely with the client, construction teams, designers and supply chain partners to ensure buildability and efficient delivery are considered throughout the design process.
• Ensure designs are developed in accordance with CDM Regulations and appropriate sustainability requirements.
• Maintain compliance with programme governance, engineering procedures and design assurance processes.
• Take ownership of design budgets, tracking expenditure and producing forecasts through to completion.
• Manage and document design changes, assessing their impact and maintaining commercial control.
• Agree design expenditure and delivery programmes with the Project Manager and Principal Design Manager.
• Produce regular progress reporting, performance metrics and supporting commentary.
• Develop and maintain the Design Management Plan / Project Execution Plan, coordinating the resources and activities required for successful delivery.
• Ensure all required design deliverables are completed to the agreed programme, budget and quality standards.

Requirements for this opportunity

• A relevant academic engineering qualification.
• Chartered status would be advantageous.
• Previous experience leading or coordinating engineering design within a multidisciplinary environment especially for a tier one contractor on a major infrastructure project
• Strong understanding of design quality assurance and quality control processes.
• Experience delivering designs and tender submissions against programme, cost and quality objectives.
• The ability to work collaboratively with engineering, commercial and construction teams as well as clients and supply chain partners.
• Good commercial awareness, particularly around design budgets, forecasting and change control.
• A sound understanding of designer responsibilities under the CDM Regulations.
• A proactive and adaptable approach, with the ability to respond effectively as project requirements develop.