Project Design Manager

Alexander Associates; Colne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Alexander Associates is seeking an experienced Project Design Manager to lead design management on major infrastructure programmes. You will oversee feasibility through detailed design and handover, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and acting as Principal Designer under CDM regulations.

Responsibilities include championing BIM, driving sustainable design, and ensuring deliverables align with programme, budget, and stakeholder expectations. Mentoring junior engineers is also expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Proven design management or engineering leadership on large infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of CDM 2015 Regulations and experience as Principal Designer or risk manager.
• Experience in multidisciplinary project environments, ideally capital programmes.
• Working knowledge of BIM and integrated design processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design management process from concept to detailed design and assurance.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams to align with programme and budget.
• Act as Principal Designer under CDM, embedding health and safety in design.
• Champion digital engineering and BIM to improve delivery and coordination.
• Drive innovative, low‑carbon, repeatable design solutions.
• Plan design activities, manage resources, and ensure deliverables stay on programme.
• Build strong relationships with clients, contractors, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Promote best practice in quality, health and safety, and engineering excellence.
• Mentor and support junior engineers and designers.

Skills

Design leadership

CDM Regulations

BIM & Digital

Stakeholder management

Coordination

Mentoring

Education

Civil Engineering degree

Tools

BIM software

Job description

Project Design Manager

Are you an experienced design professional looking to lead the delivery of major infrastructure projects? We're recruiting for a Project Design Manager to join a collaborative engineering team working on high-profile capital programmes. This is an excellent opportunity to take technical ownership of complex projects from feasibility through to detailed design and final handover. You'll play a pivotal role in coordinating multidisciplinary design teams, ensuring technical excellence while delivering practical, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions. Working closely with project managers, engineers, construction teams, and key stakeholders, you'll help drive successful project outcomes in a collaborative environment where innovation, safety, and continuous improvement are at the forefront.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design management process across major infrastructure projects from concept through to detailed design and technical assurance.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams to ensure designs are fully integrated and aligned with programme, budget, operational, and environmental objectives.
• Act as Principal Designer under CDM Regulations, ensuring design risks are effectively managed and health and safety principles are embedded throughout the design process.
• Champion digital engineering, promoting the use of BIM, 3D modelling, and collaborative design tools to improve project delivery and coordination.
• Drive innovation by identifying opportunities to enhance technical standards, improve efficiencies, and develop sustainable, low‑carbon, and repeatable design solutions.
• Work closely with project and delivery teams to plan design activities, manage resources, and ensure technical deliverables remain on programme.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, regulatory bodies, and other key stakeholders to support successful project delivery.
• Promote best practice across quality, health and safety, and engineering excellence.
• Mentor and support junior engineers and designers, fostering a positive and collaborative team culture.
• Encourage effective cross‑disciplinary collaboration to maximise value throughout the design lifecycle.

About You

• A degree, HNC or HND in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Proven experience in a design management or engineering leadership role within complex infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of CDM 2015 Regulations, including experience acting as Principal Designer or managing design risk.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary project environments, ideally on large‑scale capital programmes.
• Good working knowledge of BIM, digital engineering tools, and integrated design processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build effective working relationships at all levels.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused approach with a passion for delivering high‑quality engineering outcomes and driving continuous improvement.

If you're looking to join a forward‑thinking organisation delivering complex infrastructure projects that make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.