Senior Design Manager

JACOBS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible work arrangements

Pension contributions up to 10%

Health coverage

Parental leave benefits

Life assurance 4× salary

Well-being hub

Professional development

Community engagement

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design teams across major UK water projects. You will coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and construction disciplines to produce buildable designs ready for delivery and commissioning.

You will own design scope, programme, technical interfaces and assurance, while guiding project managers, construction teams and senior clients to resolve issues and maintain momentum.

Qualifications

• Technical leadership in the design and project management of large-scale infrastructure programmes.
• Expertise in multidisciplinary engineering and construction integration.
• Knowledge of NEC3/4 contract and change control processes.
• Knowledge of CDM regulations and processes.
• Passion for problem solving and delivering innovation with autonomous working style.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary detailed design teams across major water and wastewater programmes.
• Coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, process and construction disciplines for buildable designs.
• Own design scope, programme, interfaces, assurance and change management.
• Mentor staff and develop the practice while engaging with project managers and clients.

Skills

Technical leadership

Multidisciplinary engineering

Contract & change control

CDM regulations

Stakeholder communication

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 opportunities 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Great communicator able to explain complex technical issues to multiple stakeholders with differing backgrounds and levels of expertise.

Benefits

• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience.
• Flexible work arrangements: hybrid, part‑time or flexible hours and locations.
• Robust pension contributions up to 10%.
• Comprehensive health coverage including digital GP service and options for partner/family.
• Family planning support and fertility healthcare services.
• Enhanced parental leave pay and parental programs.
• Life assurance at 4× your salary.
• Well‑being hub with access to apps and resources.
• Professional development with coverage of professional membership fees and CPD opportunities.
• Community engagement and charitable donations program.

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