Senior Design Manager

Avove Utilities; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Discretionary bonus

Enhanced pension

Family friendly policies

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Private GP Helpline & Health Cash Plan

Avove Discount Scheme

Volunteer days and charity matched

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

Avove is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead complex water and wastewater project design within our United Utilities design team. The role is based in Warrington with a hybrid working policy, offering a salary of £65,000–£75,000 (dependent on experience) and a permanent contract.

You will oversee multidisciplinary design programmes, manage resources and governance, ensure safety and quality, and foster client and partner relationships to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Engineering (or equivalent) with Chartered Engineer status.
• Extensive experience delivering complex water and wastewater projects, including major non-infrastructure programmes.
• Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and managing multiple projects or programmes.
• Strong experience working with clients, external design partners, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrable expertise in design governance, technical assurance, risk management, and programme delivery.
• Commercially aware, with experience operating within NEC contracts and AMP programmes.
• Knowledge of CDM regulations, including experience acting as Principal Designer.
• Experienced in developing engineering capability, growing teams, and supporting wider business growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams to deliver complex water and infrastructure projects safely, on time, and within budget.
• Manage multiple design workstreams, ensuring quality, programme, and commercial objectives are met.
• Provide technical leadership and ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations, and safe-by-design principles.
• Build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and operational teams to support successful project delivery.
• Lead design assurance activities, manage risks, and drive continuous improvement across programmes.
• Plan and coordinate engineering resources, including external design partners and consultants.
• Mentor and develop engineers and Design Project Managers, promoting a high-performing and collaborative culture

Skills

Chartered Engineer

Water/wastewater projects

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Design governance

NEC contracts

AMP programmes

CDM regulations

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Chartered Engineer status

Job description

We’re looking for a Senior Design Manager to join our United Utilities design team.

Location: Warrington (we offer a hybrid work policy with time split between office and home working)

Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 Depending on experience

Contract Type: Permanent

Benefits: Car/allowance, discretionary bonus scheme, enhanced pension, family friendly policies.

As a Senior Design Manager, you will lead the delivery of complex multidisciplinary design programmes across water and wastewater projects. Responsible for managing design performance, resources, governance, and stakeholder relationships, you will ensure engineering solutions are delivered safely, efficiently, and in line with programme, budget, and quality objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams to deliver complex water and infrastructure projects safely, on time, and within budget.
• Manage multiple design workstreams, ensuring quality, programme, and commercial objectives are met.
• Provide technical leadership and ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations, and safe-by-design principles.
• Build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and operational teams to support successful project delivery.
• Lead design assurance activities, manage risks, and drive continuous improvement across programmes.
• Plan and coordinate engineering resources, including external design partners and consultants.
• Mentor and develop engineers and Design Project Managers, promoting a high-performing and collaborative culture

About you

• Degree-qualified in Engineering (or equivalent experience) with Chartered Engineer status.
• Extensive experience delivering complex water and wastewater projects, including major non-infrastructure programmes.
• Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and managing multiple projects or programmes simultaneously.
• Strong experience working with clients, external design partners, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrable expertise in design governance, technical assurance, risk management, and programme delivery.
• Commercially aware, with experience operating within NEC contracts and AMP programmes.
• Knowledge of CDM regulations, including experience acting as Principal Designer.
• Experienced in developing engineering capability, growing teams, and supporting wider business growth initiatives.

This role is known internally as a Senior Project Manager

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Visa process. Applicants must therefore have, and maintain, an alternative right to work for the duration of employment.

What’s in it for you?

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Company car allowance
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Private GP Helpline & Health Cash Plan
• Avove Discount Scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A selection of lifestyle benefit options
• Financial wellbeing programme
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing and onsite mental health first aiders to support our colleagues
• We love to give back so we offer you volunteering days in your community and charity matched giving where we will boost your fundraising.

Why join Avove?

At Avove, we’re proud to create an environment where people can build meaningful careers, develop their skills and feel supported to reach their full potential. We invest in training and development, provide opportunities to grow, and are committed to a workplace where safety, wellbeing and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do. With a strong focus on supporting our people and their families through a broad range of benefits, Avove is a place where you can feel valued, make a real impact and take the next step in your career with confidence.

About Avove

Avove is a leading infrastructure services provider, delivering critical utility and energy solutions across the UK. With a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and innovation, we specialise in the design, maintenance, and renewal of essential infrastructure for water, energy, and telecoms networks. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to long-term investment in training, development, and modern equipment to support our teams in delivering high-quality, reliable services for our clients and communities.

We are an equal opportunities employer

At the heart of what we do is a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We celebrate what makes each of us unique and are building a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves. If you require any reasonable adjustments or support during the application or interview process, please let us know and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can support you.