Electrical Design Manager

Peaple Talent; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Peaple Talent is seeking a Design Manager for Electrical Power Networks (LV to 132kV) in the UK. You will lead the design function, manage a team of electrical and civil engineers and CAD technicians, and own the P&L for the department. The role involves setting KPIs, maintaining NERS accreditation, and driving client engagement.

The position offers hybrid work with weekly presence in a Barnsley office and the opportunity to shape a growing, independent connection provider’s design capabilities.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience designing electrical power networks.
• Leadership experience or readiness to manage a team.
• Genuine understanding of DNO/IDNO standards, NERS accreditation, CDM regs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the electrical design team, including recruitment and prioritisation.
• Own the design department P&L and provide financial reporting to the MD.
• Maintain and evolve NERS accreditation and IMS.
• Set design quality KPIs, including DNO acceptance rates.
• Support the MD with business development and client engagement.
• Build a standalone earthing design capability from scratch.
• Continue hands-on technical design from LV to 132kV.

Skills

Team leadership

Electrical design

P&L accountability

NERS accreditation

Client engagement

Job description

Design Manager, Electrical Power Networks (LV to 132kV)

Most Design Manager roles are about keeping the wheels turning on someone else's business. This one isn't.

This is a rare chance to run and grow the design function at one of the UK's most established independent connection providers. LV to 132kV, contestable networks, private wire, DNO connections, the technical scope is broad and the design team already sits behind some of the biggest connection projects in the country. What's on the table now is stepping in to lead it, shape it, and build it out further.

You'd own the electrical design department end to end. That means a team of electrical engineers, civil engineers and CAD technicians reporting to you, the P&L for the department under your name, and full responsibility for design quality across everything the business puts its stamp on. NERS accreditation to maintain, IMS to evolve, KPIs to set, and a standalone earthing design team to build from scratch alongside the MD.

It's technical, it's commercial, it's client-facing, and it comes with genuine influence on where the business goes next.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading and growing the electrical design team, including recruitment, technical development and workflow prioritisation
• Owning the design department P&L, financial reporting to the MD, and profitability tracking across projects
• Maintaining and evolving NERS accreditation and the wider Internal Management System
• Setting design quality KPIs including first-time DNO acceptance rates
• Supporting the MD with business development, new client engagement and repeat business
• Building out a standalone earthing design capability from the ground up
• Still doing hands-on technical work where it matters, designs from LV to 132kV

What You'll Need

• Substantial experience designing electrical power networks, ideally including contestable connection work
• Comfort across the technical range from LV distribution through HV and up to 132kV
• Genuine understanding of DNO/IDNO standards, NERS accreditation, CDM regulations and the wider regulatory framework
• Leadership experience or clear readiness to step up into a team management role
• Commercial awareness, P&L accountability isn't going to be new to you, or it's a step you're actively looking to take

The package is around £85k depending on experience. Role can be remote, hybrid (weekly presence in their Barnsley office)