Wastewater Design Manager - Hybrid Work & Growth

COWI; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Development plans

Hybrid working

Professional subscriptions

Pension

Life assurance

Job summary

COWI in the United Kingdom is seeking a Design Manager (Wastewater Non-Infrastructure) to lead and deliver wastewater projects across AMP8. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, oversee process, civil, mechanical, electrical design, and ensure value engineering and regulatory compliance.

You will mentor engineers, manage programmes and budgets, embed digital engineering and BIM, and collaborate with clients and contractors to produce buildable, sustainable solutions.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Civil, Mechanical or Process Engineering (or related discipline).
• Achieved Chartered Engineer status (e.g. MICE, MCIWEM, IChemE or equivalent) or working towards chartership.
• Extensive experience in wastewater non-infrastructure design within UK water sector frameworks (AMP7/AMP8).
• Established experience as Design Manager or senior design leader in cooperative delivery structures (alliances/frameworks).
• Demonstrable experience delivering TotEx-driven solutions and understanding Ofwat regulatory drivers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver the design of wastewater non-infrastructure projects across AMP8 stages from optioneering to detailed design and commissioning support.
• Act as Design Manager within alliances/frameworks ensuring integration across process, civil, mechanical, electrical, and ICA disciplines.
• Ensure best-for-project and TotEx-led design solutions balancing capital and operational expenditure.
• Oversee wastewater process design integration including treatment performance, resilience and regulatory standards.
• Embed digital engineering and BIM (ISO 19650) into design delivery for data‑driven decisions.
• Manage design programmes, resources, risks and budgets to meet AMP8 delivery milestones.
• Oversee design risk management activities (HAZID/HAZOP/ALM) and safe-by-design in line with CDM Regulations.
• Collaborate with contractors, suppliers and client teams to deliver integrated, buildable solutions.
• Support carbon reduction and sustainability objectives, including low-carbon design and circular economy principles.
• Contribute to bids, tenders and framework growth within AMP8 and beyond.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships as a reliable delivery partner.
• Mentor and develop engineers and designers aligned to AMP8 demand.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Client-facing

Commercial awareness

Programme control

BIM/ISO19650

Wastewater processes

Education

Degree in Civil/Mechanical/Process Engineering

Chartered Engineer status (MICE/MCIWEM/IChemE)

Job description

COWI in the United Kingdom is seeking a Design Manager (Wastewater Non-Infrastructure) to lead and deliver wastewater projects across AMP8. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, oversee process, civil, mechanical, electrical design, and ensure value engineering and regulatory compliance.

You will mentor engineers, manage programmes and budgets, embed digital engineering and BIM, and collaborate with clients and contractors to produce buildable, sustainable solutions.