Lead Wastewater Design Manager, Non-Infrastructure (Hybrid)

Cowi; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Cowi is seeking a Design Manager (Wastewater Non-Infrastructure) to lead the design and delivery of wastewater projects across AMP8. You’ll work on treatment works upgrades, process optimisation, sludge treatment, pumping stations, and MEICA/civil assets, in a collaborative, hybrid office/home setup.

You’ll guide design teams across process, civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA disciplines, ensure TotEx-led solutions, embed BIM and digital engineering, and manage programmes, risks and budgets

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Civil, Mechanical or Process Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status or working towards chartership.
• Extensive experience in wastewater non-infrastructure design within UK water sector.
• Experienced as Design Manager or senior design leader in alliances/frameworks.
• Experience delivering TotEx-driven solutions with Ofwat regulatory drivers.
• In-depth knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and BIM/digital engineering.
• Leadership, stakeholder engagement, client-facing skills, and commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Managing and delivering the design of wastewater non-infrastructure projects across all AMP8 stages, from optioneering and outline design through to detailed design and commissioning support
• Acting as Design Manager within collaborative delivery models (alliances and frameworks), ensuring integration across process, civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA disciplines
• Ensuring best-for-project and TotEx-led design solutions, balancing capital and operational expenditure
• Managing wastewater process design integration, including treatment performance, resilience, and regulatory compliance
• Embedding digital engineering and BIM (ISO) principles into design delivery, supporting data-driven decision making
• Managing design programmes, resources, risks, and budgets to meet AMP8 delivery milestones
• Overseeing design risk management activities (HAZID, HAZOP, ALM) and embedding safe-by-design principles to comply with CDM Regulations
• Collaborating with contractors, suppliers, and client teams to deliver integrated and buildable solutions
• Supporting carbon reduction and sustainability objectives, including low-carbon design and circular economy principles
• Contributing to bids, tenders, and framework growth within AMP8 and beyond
• Building and sustaining trusted client relationships as a reliable delivery partner
• Mentoring and developing engineers and designers, supporting capability growth aligned to AMP8 demand

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Client-facing skills

Commercial awareness

Programme & cost control

Wastewater non-infrastructure design

Ofwat regulatory drivers knowledge

NEC3/NEC4 contracts experience

Digital engineering / BIM

Sustainability / carbon reduction

Education

Degree-qualified in Civil, Mechanical or Process Engineering

Chartered Engineer status (e.g. MICE, MCIWEM, IChemE) or working towards chartership

Job description

Cowi is seeking a Design Manager (Wastewater Non-Infrastructure) to lead the design and delivery of wastewater projects across AMP8. You’ll work on treatment works upgrades, process optimisation, sludge treatment, pumping stations, and MEICA/civil assets, in a collaborative, hybrid office/home setup.

You’ll guide design teams across process, civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA disciplines, ensure TotEx-led solutions, embed BIM and digital engineering, and manage programmes, risks and budgets