Senior Design manager - Water

Access Talent Group; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm in London seeks a Senior Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary teams on high-impact water and environmental projects across the UK and Ireland. You will manage design stages from concept to delivery, ensuring project quality and sustainability. The ideal candidate has a degree in engineering and experience in the water sector. The role offers hybrid working, allowing you to balance office and remote work.

Qualifications

• Chartered or working towards accreditation (e.g. ICE, CIWEM).
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of the water or utilities sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop project design teams.
• Manage projects across all design stages.
• Collaborate with clients to identify sustainable engineering solutions.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Leadership

Client-focused

Education

Degree in Civil, Environmental, or related Engineering discipline

Job description

Overview

Are you an accomplished engineering professional with a passion for leading multidisciplinary design teams and delivering complex infrastructure projects? This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking consultancy as a Senior Design Manager, contributing to a wide range of high-impact water and environmental projects across the UK and Ireland.

This role places you at the center of shaping the built environment — from early asset strategy and concept development to detailed design and delivery. You will work closely with clients in the water sector to address challenges in clean water, wastewater, drainage, flooding, and sustainability. It is a role that aims to deliver infrastructure supporting climate resilience, community wellbeing, and environmental protection.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop project design teams, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative working environment.
• Manage and deliver projects across all design stages: asset planning, concept design, outline and detailed design.
• Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to identify sustainable, efficient engineering solutions.
• Work closely with Project Managers to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and to a high standard of quality.
• Apply best practices in design management, technical delivery, and client engagement.
• Contribute to a range of regional and national water frameworks, helping to shape the future of the industry.

Areas you will work in

• Clean water treatment and distribution
• Wastewater collection and treatment
• Urban drainage and surface water management
• Flood risk mitigation and resilience planning
• Sustainable and climate-adaptive infrastructure

Projects are delivered through major UK frameworks, with long-term partnerships with utility providers across the South of England, Wales, and Ireland.

Requirements

• Degree-qualified in Civil, Environmental, or a related Engineering discipline.
• Chartered or working toward professional accreditation (e.g. ICE, CIWEM).
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering or design teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills with the ability to drive innovative, sustainable solutions.
• Strong understanding of the water or utilities sector, with a client-focused mindset.
• 3 days a week hybrid working.

If you are an experienced Design Manager or an established senior design manager ready to work on projects across the UK leading multidisciplinary teams in the Infrastructure and Non-infrastructure sector, please contact Cameron Green on 02380981322 or email [e-mail].