Lead Design Manager, Water & Wastewater Projects

Avove Utilities; Coalville; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Discretionary bonus scheme

Enhanced pension

Family friendly policies

Private GP Helpline & Health Cash Plan

Avove Discount Scheme

Life assurance

Employee assistance program

Volunteering days

Charity matched giving

Job summary

Avove is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead the delivery of complex water and wastewater design programmes in the United Utilities design team. The role focuses on design governance, risk management, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, on-time, and on-budget outcomes.

You will manage resources, engage clients and external partners, and drive continuous improvement across programmes while mentoring engineers and Design Project Managers.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Engineering with Chartered Engineer status.
• Extensive experience delivering complex water and wastewater projects.
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with clients and geographically dispersed teams.
• Expertise in design governance, technical assurance, risk management, and programme delivery.
• Commercial awareness with NEC contracts and AMP programmes.
• Knowledge of CDM regulations, including Principal Designer duties.
• Experience growing engineering capability and teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams to deliver complex water and infrastructure projects safely, on time, and within budget.
• Manage multiple design workstreams, ensuring quality, programme, and commercial objectives are met.
• Provide technical leadership and ensure compliance with industry standards and safe-by-design principles.
• Build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and operations teams to support project delivery.
• Lead design assurance activities, manage risks, and drive continuous improvement across programmes.
• Plan and coordinate engineering resources, including external design partners and consultants.
• Mentor and develop engineers and Design Project Managers, promoting collaboration.

Skills

Chartered Engineer

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Design governance

Risk management

Client relationship

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

NEC contracts

AMP programmes

Job description

Avove is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead the delivery of complex water and wastewater design programmes in the United Utilities design team. The role focuses on design governance, risk management, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, on-time, and on-budget outcomes.

You will manage resources, engage clients and external partners, and drive continuous improvement across programmes while mentoring engineers and Design Project Managers.