Senior Design Manager

Jacobs; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Competitive compensation

Robust pension contributions

Comprehensive health coverage

CPD opportunities

Volunteer and charity matching

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Design Manager in the UK water sector to lead multidisciplinary design teams across major water and wastewater programmes. You will coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, process and construction disciplines to deliver coordinated, buildable designs ready for delivery and commissioning.

You will develop high-performing teams, mentor staff and own design scope, programme and interfaces, while challenging designs to improve value and whole-life performance

Qualifications

• Experience leading design and project management of large-scale infrastructure programmes.
• Expertise in multidisciplinary engineering and construction integration.
• Knowledge of NEC3/4 contracts and change control processes.
• Understanding of CDM regulations and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated problem solving and innovation in design deliveries.
• Proven ability to mentor staff and build high-performing teams.
• Ability to communicate complex technical issues to diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary detailed design teams across major water and wastewater programmes.
• Coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, process and construction interfaces.
• Take ownership of design scope, programme, interfaces, assurance and change.
• Work with project managers and clients to maintain momentum and value.

Skills

Technical leadership

Multidisciplinary engineering

NEC contract knowledge

CDM regulations

Problem solving

Team mentoring

Strong communicator

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

You will help shape how some of the UK’s most important water and wastewater programmes move from strategy into safe, buildable and effective infrastructure.

Your leadership will bring engineering disciplines, construction teams and client stakeholders together around clear design decisions. You will help identify risk earlier, improve buildability and ensure commissioning, operational performance and whole‑life value are considered throughout the design process.

You will play a key role in building trusted client relationships, providing strategic design leadership and acting as a senior point of contact to help shape project outcomes and identify future opportunities.

This is a role where judgement matters. You will be trusted to challenge assumptions, manage competing priorities and give clients confidence that complex programmes are technically sound and commercially deliverable.

You will also influence how design is managed across the wider practice. By improving approaches to standardisation, automation, assurance and multidisciplinary delivery, you will help teams work more effectively and create stronger outcomes for clients and communities.

About The Opportunity

The UK water sector is entering a major period of investment, creating the opportunity to improve the resilience, capacity and environmental performance of critical infrastructure.

As a Senior Design Manager, you will lead multidisciplinary detailed design teams across major water and wastewater programmes. You will bring civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, process and construction teams together to produce coordinated, buildable designs that are ready for successful delivery and commissioning.

You will build high performing teams, mentor staff, create opportunity for others and develop our business. A key part of this role will be to take ownership of design scope, programme, technical interfaces, assurance and change, working closely with project managers, construction teams and senior client stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain momentum. You will also challenge designs to improve value, standardisation and whole‑life performance, while ensuring CDM requirements, technical standards and NEC contract processes are properly addressed.

This is a great opportunity to join a growing water practice and play a visible role on some of the UK’s most ambitious infrastructure programmes. Success will mean improving design certainty, reducing delivery risk and helping talented multidisciplinary teams produce engineering solutions that work in design, construction and operation.

Ready to challenge today and re‑invent tomorrow?

Here's what you'll need

We would be delighted to hear from and speak to candidates with a progressive mix of the following

• Technical leadership in the design and project management of large‑scale infrastructure programmes
• Expertise in multidisciplinary engineering and construction integration
• NEC3/4 contract and change control experience
• Knowledge of CDM regulations and processes.
• Passion and enthusiasm for problem solving, creating and delivering innovation.
• Track record in developing and fostering a culture focused on success
• Ability to operate autonomously across a wide range of complex projects with authority
• Be a great communicator able to explain complex technical issues to multiple stakeholders with differing backgrounds and levels expertise.

We offer

• Competitive salary We offer compensation that reflects your skills and experience
• Flexible Work Arrangements Benefit from hybrid, part‑time, and flexible working hours, patterns, and locations
• Robust Pension Contributions We offer enhanced pension contributions up to 10% to secure your future
• Comprehensive Health Coverage Single medical cover and Digital GP service, with options to add your partner and family
• Family Planning Support Access to fertility healthcare and family planning services
• Enhanced Parental Leave Enjoy enhanced parental leave pay and free membership to employee assistance and parental programs
• Life assurance at 4x your salary
• Wellbeing Hub Free access to wellbeing apps like Calm and Daily Burn
• Professional Development We cover professional membership fees and provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities
• Community Engagement Participate in charity matched‑funding, paid volunteering time, and charitable donations

#Design #Water #Infrastructure

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

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As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

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