Lead Drainage & Water Design Engineer

Kier Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kier Design in the UK seeks a Drainage and Water Design Team Leader to lead a specialist team across transport infrastructure projects, setting high-quality design delivery standards and ensuring outputs are coordinated, compliant and commercially sound.

You will shape technical direction with colleagues to support project performance and create the conditions for people to do their best work, influencing design quality beyond delivery.

Qualifications

• Experienced design leader who can build confidence, capability and accountability across multi-level teams.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to manage programmes, budgets, risks, and client expectations without compromising technical quality.
• Confident advising and influencing clients, stakeholders, local authorities, Lead Local Flood Authorities, National Highways, and utility partners.
• Technically strong in highway drainage, water management, flood risk, SuDS, and compliant design delivery.
• Motivated by developing people, improving design practice, and delivering work that makes infrastructure more resilient, sustainable, and useful to the communities.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a high-performing design team, creating a culture of technical curiosity, collaboration, and ownership
• Providing technical leadership across drainage and water design work packages, with a focus on quality, compliance, buildability, and long-term value
• Planning, pricing, resourcing, and delivering work packages, using sound judgement to manage risk and keep commitments on track
• Building trusted relationships with clients and partners, acting as a clear, credible voice for Kier Design
• Championing better ways of working, from lessons learnt and digital tools to sustainable design thinking and technical innovation

Job description

Kier Design in the UK seeks a Drainage and Water Design Team Leader to lead a specialist team across transport infrastructure projects, setting high-quality design delivery standards and ensuring outputs are coordinated, compliant and commercially sound.

You will shape technical direction with colleagues to support project performance and create the conditions for people to do their best work, influencing design quality beyond delivery.