Lead Design Manager - Water & Nature-Based Solutions

Sweco; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Competitive pension contribution

Life Assurance

Private Medical Insurance

Discretionary Annual Bonus Scheme

Professional subscriptions

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Cycle2Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Salary Sacrifice Electric Vehicle

Tree planting for new starters

Job summary

Sweco is seeking a Project Design Manager to shape design directions for water and water recycling projects in the East of England. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, deliver right‑first‑time engineering outputs, and champion low‑carbon, digital solutions while ensuring safety and value for end users.

You’ll work with project managers, environmental and planning experts, and suppliers to deliver innovative, affordable assets and ensure successful project delivery in a collaborative alliance.

Qualifications

• Proven design management experience on water/environment projects.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of CDM health & safety requirements.
• Experience with design and build or collaborative delivery.
• Passion for low-carbon, digital design and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and technical delivery of clean water and water recycling projects across infrastructure and non-infrastructure schemes.
• Develop Engineering Project Plans covering design scope, programme, cost, risk and resources.
• Collaborate with discipline leads to set design standards and ensure integration across civil, mechanical, electrical and process.
• Drive innovation and digital design, moving towards 3D and BIM-enabled models.
• Champion sustainable design with low-carbon thinking and whole-life value.
• Engage with suppliers, partners and stakeholders to review inputs.
• Ensure all design work meets CDM and safety requirements and delivers end-user needs.
• Provide leadership to the design team, mentoring and developing talent.
• Work with project managers and procurement teams to deliver projects efficiently and affordably.

Skills

Design management

Stakeholder management

Technical design understanding

Strong communication

Digital design & BIM

Education

Engineering degree (BEng/MEng) or equivalent

Job description

Sweco is seeking a Project Design Manager to shape design directions for water and water recycling projects in the East of England. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, deliver right‑first‑time engineering outputs, and champion low‑carbon, digital solutions while ensuring safety and value for end users.

You’ll work with project managers, environmental and planning experts, and suppliers to deliver innovative, affordable assets and ensure successful project delivery in a collaborative alliance.