Engineering Design Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Tameside; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking an experienced Engineering Design Manager to lead its civil and structural design teams, guiding infrastructure improvements and providing technical leadership. You will manage performance, oversee LLFA duties, and work across the in-house delivery team on major highway, drainage and public realm schemes worth up to £90 million over five years.

The role offers flexible 36-hour week flexi-time, based at the service’s Tame Street Depot, Stalybridge,

Qualifications

• A proven track record in programme, project and contractual management
• Awareness of commercial practices within a construction environment
• Strong leadership and team development skills
• The empathy, professionalism, and collaborative approach expected of a local government officer

Responsibilities

• Lead and support its civil and structural engineering design teams, shaping infrastructure improvements
• Act as a focal point for the delivery and coordination of design services, providing technical leadership and support across the team
• Deliver design and project management expertise in a consultancy capacity to Engineering Services and other internal council clients
• Deliver the council’s Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) duties

Job description

Tameside Council’s Engineering Service is seeking to appoint an experienced Engineering Design Manager to our expanding team, to lead and support its civil and structural engineering design teams, shaping and delivering infrastructure improvements.

As an Engineering Design Manager, you will act as a focal point for the delivery and coordination of design services, providing technical leadership and support across the team. The primary function of the service is to deliver design and project management expertise in a consultancy capacity to Engineering Services and other internal council clients.

The team undertakes a diverse workload, including highway schemes (such as bridges and retaining structures), drainage schemes, public realm projects, and bespoke construction commissions.

You will be responsible for the effective and efficient management, performance, and development of a team of professional staff, ensuring delivery in line with required standards, service levels, and council policies and procedures.

This role incorporates responsibility for delivering the council’s Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) duties.

The council has a significant Highways Asset Management Plan (HAMP) programme, with investment of up to £90 million over the next five years, providing an exciting opportunity to contribute to major infrastructure improvements across the borough. This will include the design, refurbishment and reconstruction of a number of Tameside MBC’s assets, working closely with the Council’s in-house delivery team.

Upcoming works include supporting the delivery of major regeneration schemes funded through the Local Regeneration Fund (formerly Levelling Up Fund) across three of the borough’s towns, the refurbishment of a five-span viaduct across a railway line, road safety schemes, and works associated with the delivery of Godley Green Garden Village.

The successful applicant will lead on the identification and management of external funding opportunities and the associated bid processes.

About You

You will be an experienced professional with a background in construction and a strong understanding of the day-to-day operation of an engineering design team. You will ideally have knowledge of relevant design standards and an understanding of local authority processes, governance, and decision-making within a public sector environment.

You will also demonstrate:

• A proven track record in programme, project and contractual management
• Awareness of commercial practices within a construction environment
• Strong leadership and team development skills
• The empathy, professionalism, and collaborative approach expected of a local government officer

Working Arrangements

The Design Team operates a 36-hour per week flexi-time scheme, and flexible working requests will be considered to support work-life balance. The role is based at the service’s Tame Street Depot, Stalybridge.

About Us

Come shape the future of Tameside with us!

Message from Julian Jackson, Director of Housing, Environment & Estates at Tameside Council.

“Since joining Team Tameside in September 2022, I’ve been proud to work alongside a hardworking and passionate team that’s making a real difference to our borough.

“Our Place Directorate is at the heart of shaping Tameside, covering everything from planning and highways to parks, culture, arts, environmental services, and facilities management. Whether it’s keeping our streets clean, improving green spaces, or driving forward exciting regeneration projects, our work makes a direct impact on the lives of residents and businesses every day.

‘’We’ve already delivered some amazing projects, like Ashton Old Baths, and are currently working on master plans for our town centres in Stalybridge, Hyde, with projects like Ashton Mayoral Development Zone, and Godley Green Garden Village also set to create new homes, jobs and commercial spaces. But it’s not just about developments, day to day it’s about making sure our core services are modern, efficient, and able to support thriving communities and safeguard our heritage buildings and assets for the future.

To do that, we need passionate people to join us. If you want to be part of a team that’s driving real change, improving local services, and shaping the future of Tameside, we’d love to have you on board.

Come and be part of something great. Let’s build the future of Tameside together!’’

At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities.

We recognise that our people drive our success and enable the organisation to deliver on its vision, purpose and priorities, and that our people are our most important resource and asset. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours, and are at the heart of everything that we do; and we understand that how we do things is just as important as what we do. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do. How we do things are just as important as what we do.

Our employees’ skills, experience and knowledge are essential to our success along with their happiness, wellbeing, commitment, enthusiasm and motivation to be the best they can be.

**This post is classified as being in a professional job category. As such the grade for the job has a professional grade development bar which employees can progress through subject to meeting the following criteria:

1. Relevant professional qualification for the job role at Level 6 or above AND a management qualification, AND
2. Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in the role, AND
3. Maintained membership of a regulated body where this is a requirement to practice in the role where applicable, AND
4. Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.

Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here

For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager on 0161 342 3950 or [e-mail]

Closing date: 27 September 2026.

Company: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Salary: £51,356 to £54,495

Location: Tameside, Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester

Sector: Corporate Services

Sector: Corporate Management Team

Sector: Highways

Job Role: Manager