Senior Design Manager

United Utilities; England; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utility company is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead the design development of high-value capital projects. This role involves technical leadership and collaboration with stakeholders to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions. Candidates should have significant project management experience and proven abilities in risk and budget management. The company offers a flexible working environment and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Annual leave package of 26 days, increasing to 30

Competitive pension scheme with 14% employer contribution

20% performance-related bonus

£5,000 car allowance

Comprehensive healthcare plan

Flexible and hybrid working

Qualifications

• Significant post-graduate experience in a project management role.
• Experience leading complex projects and integrating cross-functional inputs.
• Ability to engage stakeholders to solve complex problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design development for high-value capital projects.
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams to deliver projects.
• Embed standardisation into project delivery.

Skills

Project leadership

Communication skills

Schedule management

Risk management

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Education

Professionally Qualified or equivalent professional experience

Job description

The role

As a Senior Design Manager, you'll be responsible for leading the design development of multiple high-value, complex capital projects within United Utilities Enterprise Programme. You'll provide technical and strategic leadership to ensure designs are safe, efficient, innovative, and fully aligned with regulatory, operational, and sustainability goals. You'll also be a key advisor to senior stakeholders and play a crucial role in shaping our approach to design governance and delivery during AMP8 and beyond.

What you'll do

• People management in a project environment, where formal line management does not exist.
• Being the champion for the project within the business and from time to time representing the business externally
• Positively support the transition of new ways of working across the community
• Building and maintaining relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
• As required, to deputise for Regional Delivery Manager (RDM)
• Develop and maintaining proactive empathetic enduring relationships and creating a healthy, inclusive and diverse environment for their team to flourish.
• Responsible for delivering the project or portfolio through the asset lifecycle in accordance with approved processes and systems.
• Responsible for writing technical reports and acting as the single point of contact for technical assurance throughout the lifecycle
• Managing multi-disciplinary teams across the matrix organisation to Delivery to time, cost, carbon and quality drivers.
• Carry out project reviews, recommend / take action as appropriate and report on a monthly basis
• Responsible for writing project documentation and technical reports. Acting as the single point of contact for technical assurance throughout the lifecycle
• Risk management to drive the delivery of opportunities or threat reduction, including adequate escalation of issues outside of your control
• Embed standardisation into all aspects of the AMP8 project delivery.

What we're looking for

• Significant post graduate experience and Professionally Qualified (or equivalent professional experience)
• Proven experience of leadership of complex projects in a project management role, including the ability to integrate input from different technical areas and other departments
• Proven communication skills with an ability to engage with stakeholders and colleagues to develop solutions to complex problems
• Proven experience of schedule management
• Proven experience of risk management
• Proven ability to manage budget and direct project controls
• Proven demonstration of adopting innovation, particularly with emerging technologies and/or environmental solutions
• Proven experience of health, safety and well-being requirements relating to delivery of projects (e.g. CDM Principal Designer or Client roles)
• Ability to think more strategically about how problems are solved, working collaboratively across different directorates at UU

What we offer

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• A 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A £5,000 car allowance to support your travel needs
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working

About United Utilities

United Utilities' (UU) mission is to deliver high-quality water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society. We are proud to be ranked in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.