Project Design Manager

ANGLIAN WATER; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water company based in Peterborough is seeking a Project Design Manager to lead the design and technical delivery of clean water projects. In this role, you will develop innovative designs, guiding a multidisciplinary team to ensure projects are sustainable and meet health and safety standards. Ideal candidates should have a degree in engineering and strong design management experience, alongside excellent communication skills. This position offers the chance to shape the future of water design and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Benefits

Fair and transparent rewards

Continuous learning opportunities

Strong inclusion and wellbeing focus

Qualifications

• A degree in engineering or equivalent qualification, preferably chartered.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience of working within a design and build or collaborative project delivery environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and technical delivery of clean water and recycling projects.
• Develop Engineering Project Plans encompassing design scope and costs.
• Collaborate with engineering discipline leads on technical standards.

Skills

Strong design management experience

Excellent communication skills

Technical understanding of clean water systems

Stakeholder management

Leadership of multidisciplinary teams

Commitment to safety and sustainability

Digital design passion

Education

Degree in engineering or equivalent

Job description

Project Design Manager

Join the @one Alliance – a collaborative partnership of eight industry-leading companies (Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska, and SWECO) delivering over half of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme. As we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of AMP8, we’re looking for talented individuals to help us shape the future of water design and infrastructure.

At Anglian Water, we’re Always Exploring – ensuring we remain competitive, attractive, and rewarding for both existing and prospective employees. By Doing The Right Thing, we’re committed to recognising and rewarding our people fairly and transparently, while Building Trust through a culture that prioritises health, safety, and wellbeing.

Your Purpose

As a Project Design Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the design and technical direction of projects that deliver sustainable, resilient water and water recycling solutions. Leading a multidisciplinary design team, you’ll develop innovative, value‑driven designs that protect and enhance our environment while ensuring safe, affordable, and future‑ready infrastructure for the East of England.

You’ll take ownership of the design journey – from concept through delivery – guiding your team to produce right‑first‑time engineering outputs that champion low‑carbon, digital innovation, and environmental stewardship.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the design and technical delivery of clean water and water recycling projects, across both infrastructure (pipelines, pumping stations) and non‑infrastructure (treatment and storage) schemes.
• Develop Engineering Project Plans encompassing design scope, programme, cost, risk, and resource planning.
• Collaborate with engineering discipline leads to define design approaches, set technical standards, and ensure design integration across civil, mechanical, electrical, and process disciplines.
• Drive innovation and digital design, supporting the move towards fully attributed 3D and BIM‑enabled models.
• Champion sustainable design by embedding low‑carbon thinking, nature‑based solutions, and whole‑life value considerations.
• Engage with suppliers, partners, and stakeholders to review and integrate third‑party design inputs effectively.
• Ensure all design work meets CDM and health & safety requirements, producing high‑quality outputs that meet end‑user and operational needs.
• Provide clear leadership to your project design team – mentoring, developing, and inspiring individuals to achieve their potential.
• Work collaboratively with project managers, environmental and planning specialists, procurement, and construction teams to deliver projects efficiently and affordably.

About You

You will ideally have:

• A degree in engineering or equivalent qualification, preferably chartered or working towards chartered status.
• Strong design management experience, ideally within the water or environmental infrastructure sectors.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver high‑quality, sustainable design outcomes.
• Technical understanding of clean water or water recycling systems, pipelines, or treatment processes.
• Experience of working within a design and build or collaborative project delivery environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, able to translate complex technical information clearly.
• A commitment to safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement, with a passion for digital design and innovation.

Depending on your skills, experience, and interests, you could be aligned to one of our four business units:

Water

The Water Business Unit provides strategic design and technical support across the clean water network – from infrastructure planning to treatment resilience – ensuring secure and efficient water supplies for future generations.

• Water Infrastructure Portfolio – PDM to lead potable water pipeline projects driven by regional growth or mains renewal.
• National Infrastructure Portfolio – PDM to work alongside some of the major infrastructure projects (rail / highways / energy) in the region focusing on protecting and diverting all the affected Anglian Water assets (potable and wastewater).
• Water Non‑Infrastructure Portfolio – PDM to lead multi‑disciplinary engineering teams to deliver clean water non‑infrastructure design (treatment works; pumping stations; groundwater abstraction). Significant programmes of work include nitrate removal; PFAS removal and upgrades to potable water treatment works.

Water Recycling (East and West)

Our Water Recycling teams are responsible for the design and optimisation of waste water projects and treatment solutions (both infra and non infra). We drive innovation to enhance environmental outcomes and improve the sustainability of our network.

Place Based Thinking

Delivering some of the largest and most complex projects within the @one Alliance, this team focuses on integrated solutions that protect communities, improve resilience, and deliver value across multiple sites and catchments.

Why Join Us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to work with one of the UK’s most progressive design and delivery alliances. You’ll play a key role in designing the next generation of water and water recycling assets that respond to the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.

We offer a culture that values creativity, technical excellence, and professional growth, with continuous learning and opportunities to shape the way we design and deliver sustainable infrastructure.

We reward our people fairly and transparently, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, wellbeing, and long‑term career development.

At Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, we believe in being Safer Every Day

Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Being Safer Every Day means making positive choices, moment by moment, to protect ourselves and those around us. We create a culture where health, safety, and wellbeing come first. Together, we will be the change.