Project Design Manager (@one Alliance)

Binnies; East Hampshire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9‑day working fortnight

Competitive pension scheme

33 days annual leave

Paid volunteering day each year

Enhanced parental leave

Private medical cover

Support of 2 paid qualifications

Annual bonus

Job summary

Binnies in Peterborough seeks a Project Design Manager to lead the design and technical direction for water and water recycling projects. You will guide a multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, affordable, and future‑ready infrastructure, with emphasis on low‑carbon and digital design.

You will own the design journey from concept to delivery, shaping technical standards, managing risk, and driving innovations across civil, mechanical, electrical, and process disciplines while partnering with

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or equivalent; chartered status or working towards chartered.
• Strong design management experience in water/environmental infrastructure.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver high‑quality, sustainable design outcomes.
• Technical understanding of clean water or water recycling systems and related processes.
• Experience in design and build or collaborative project delivery.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; able to translate complex technical information clearly.
• Commitment to safety, sustainability, continuous improvement, and digital design/innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and technical delivery of water and water recycling projects (infrastructure and non‑infrastructure).
• Develop Engineering Project Plans covering scope, programme, cost, risk, and resources.
• Define design approaches and standards with discipline leads; ensure design integration across civil, mechanical, electrical, and process.
• Drive innovation and digital design; move toward 3D/BIM‑enabled models.
• Champion low‑carbon, nature‑based solutions and whole‑life value.
• Engage with suppliers and stakeholders to integrate third‑party inputs.
• Ensure design work meets CDM and health & safety requirements; deliver high‑quality outputs.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and development for the design team.
• Collaborate with project managers, environmental/planning specialists, procurement, and construction teams.

Skills

Design leadership

Multidisciplinary team leadership

Stakeholder management

Digital design & BIM

Safety & sustainability mindset

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered/working towards chartered

Tools

BIM software

3D modeling tools

CAD software

Job description

Project Design Manager

Location: Peterborough

Benefits

• 9-day working fortnight
• Competitive pension scheme
• 33 days annual leave
• Paid volunteering day each year
• Enhanced parental leave
• Private medical cover
• Support of 2 paid qualifications
• Annual bonus (subject to company and individual performance)

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

• 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; ground water 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.

About Us

We develop intelligent solutions using our award‑winning integrated planning and design approach to deliver functional infrastructure and lasting environmental and social legacies. This is backed by a culture that has stayed true since our foundation over 100 years ago. We create new possibilities for humanity through our innovative approach to delivery.

Together with our clients, we are always striving to find a smarter way to deliver projects. From providing low carbon, sustainable and resilient water solutions, flood alleviation and environment services, to connecting people with insights and data. Our business exists to improve the quality of life for our local communities today and for generations to come.

Binnies is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then.

At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees.

Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people‑first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company.

If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?

Benefits

• Private Health Insurance
• Income Protection
• High Street Vouchers
• Life Assurance
• Annual Leave Purchase
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Paid Volunteering
• Mental Health Support
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Sectors

Environment

We create sustainable critical infrastructure across the whole asset life cycle to meet the net zero challenge. We integrate sustainability into everything we do, utilising digital innovation to create value. We de‑risk projects through collaborative engagement and holistic thinking which builds inclusive wealth for our clients, stakeholders and communities.

Water

We are engaged in every aspect of the water industry, helping clients efficiently and effectively collect, store, move and treat water and wastewater; plan and manage watersheds; harness the energy embedded in the treatment and movement of water and enhance sustainability. We incorporate leading‑edge digital transformation to create more resilient and reliable solutions using data analytics to provide powerful insights.