Design Manager – Water in Manchester, Greater Manchester

Design Manager – Water Industry

Our client is a specialist engineering and construction contractor operating across the UK water industry, partnering with major water companies to deliver complex infrastructure solutions. This is a permanent position with a salary guide up to £80k. The Design Manager will manage designers and design delivery across multi‑disciplinary teams, lead delivery of water industry designs, ensuring time and quality expectations. The role is based in Manchester with hybrid working options.

Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor and develop engineers, CAD technicians and graduates while fostering a positive team culture and supporting the growth of the design function.
• Lead multidisciplinary design processes on water industry projects, ensuring collaboration, coordination and high‑quality integrated outputs.
• Ensure delivery of design packages that meet safety, quality, timescale and budget requirements, with all project changes accurately recorded.
• Promote and enforce the use of appropriate standards, best practices, formal procedures and modern software tools across the team.
• Drive continuous improvement by shaping processes, supporting design hour estimation, and encouraging adoption of BIM and 3D modelling technologies.

Qualifications

• Significant engineering experience in a regulated industry at Principal or Managerial level (water, rail, nuclear, highways, oil & gas).
• Proven track record managing multidisciplinary design teams and projects.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards Chartership.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with a guide up to £80,000.
• Combined pension of 9%.
• Professional membership and chartership mentoring and support.
• Regular engagement, appraisals and ongoing professional development opportunities.

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