Project Manager (Regional Design Lead)

The Role

We are seeking two experienced Regional Design Leads (West and East) to take ownership of design leadership and delivery across a programme of water and wastewater projects. This role is critical in ensuring high-quality, compliant, and timely design solutions for regionally aligned clients and other agreed frameworks.

Contracted to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

Working from our MSN office (West) and Maidstone office (East).

Design Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the design elements and deliverables from outline design through to final handover.
• Ensure deliverables are clearly defined, assigned, understood, and achieved to agreed programmes and quality standards.
• Monitor progress, proactively identifying risks, delays, opportunities, and potential cost or programme impacts.
• Coordinate, review, and drive RFI schedules to ensure timely availability of critical information.

Team Leadership & Resource Management

• Lead, develop, and grow a team of seconded engineers, designers, support staff, and subcontracted specialists.
• Ensure deliverables are agreed, assigned, and understood at all stages from outline design to final handover. Advise on potential opportunities, delays, risks, and changes to programme or planned costs.
• Forecast design labour requirements, identify future skills gaps, and work with Design Managers to ensure appropriate resourcing and capacity.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and leadership across the regional design team.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a key interface between design, project management, planning, commercial teams, clients, suppliers, and external technical advisors.
• Attend and contribute to project meetings (online and in person) to represent the design and technical function.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Technical Assurance & Governance

• Play an active role in design assurance activities in line with the Bridges Way, including DRAs, ALMs, Buildability Reviews, and HAZOPs.
• Support wider technical and commercial reviews during both design and construction phases.
• Ensure alignment and coordination across disciplines through periodic reviews of deliverables.

Innovation, Compliance & Risk Management

• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and best practice across projects and designs.
• Identify and manage scope changes, ensuring compliance with change control processes and advising on contractual, cost, and programme implications.
• Identify Temporary Works requirements and ensure they are correctly communicated, managed, and controlled.
• Support the production of specifications and statements of need for plant, contract designs, and surveys, ensuring compliance with industry standards, legislation, and client requirements.
• Coordinate resolution of technical challenges, escalating risks and issues where required.

Supply Chain & Contractor Oversight

• Oversee and coordinate contracted designers, surveyors, and technical support providers.
• Review costs, programmes, deliverables, and specifications to ensure value, quality, and compliance.

Essential Requirements

• Strong experience delivering design within water and wastewater or similar regulated infrastructure environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary design teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of design assurance, risk management, and change control processes.
• Proactive, collaborative, and solutions‑focused approach.

Desirable Requirements

• Chartered or working towards chartership in Engineering (or equivalent), or relevant work experience.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Company car/car allowance
• Health cash plan with Healthshield
• Standard Life Pension Scheme – 5% company contribution
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Bike 2 Work scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Employee referral scheme – £1,000 if you successfully introduce someone
• Employee recognition schemes
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay

Bridges is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring equality and diversity within the workplace.

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