Senior Design Manager - Anglian Water

Senior Design Manager
Location: East Anglia, with travel to project sites as required
Sector: Civil Engineering | Water and Wastewater Infrastructure | Major Projects
Great infrastructure starts with great design. It takes technical expertise, collaboration and forward thinking to turn ambitious engineering plans into practical, sustainable solutions that stand the test of time.
Are you an experienced Senior Design Manager looking to play a pivotal role in delivering major water and wastewater infrastructure projects across East Anglia for our client, Anglian Water.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead complex, multidisciplinary design activities and influence projects from early development through to construction and delivery. Working closely with engineering specialists, project teams, external consultants and the client, you''ll help ensure designs are technically robust, commercially effective, buildable and aligned with project objectives.
You''ll bring the confidence to challenge conventional thinking, identify opportunities for innovation and value engineering, and bring people together to achieve exceptional outcomes. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and want to help shape essential infrastructure for future generations, this could be the opportunity for you.
What you''ll be doing
As Senior Design Manager, you''ll take the lead in coordinating and managing design activities across major water and wastewater infrastructure schemes, ensuring that design solutions support safe, efficient and successful project delivery.
Your responsibilities will include:
·Leading and coordinating multidisciplinary design activities throughout the project lifecycle, from concept development and design planning through to construction and completion.
·Managing internal design resources, external consultants and specialist engineering partners to ensure designs are delivered to the required standards, programme and budget.
·Working closely with Project Managers, construction teams, commercial colleagues and the client to align design development with project delivery objectives.
·Driving design coordination and integration across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and other relevant engineering disciplines.
·Ensuring design solutions are practical, buildable, compliant and aligned with project specifications, technical standards and regulatory requirements.
·Developing and managing design programmes, monitoring progress, identifying potential delays and implementing appropriate corrective actions.
·Proactively identifying and managing design risks, interfaces, constraints and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
·Championing value engineering, innovation and design optimisation to improve efficiency, reduce whole-life costs and maximise value for the client.
·Supporting construction teams by resolving technical queries, addressing design issues and ensuring design information is available when required.
·Managing design reviews, technical submissions, design changes and the coordination of design deliverables.
·Promoting a strong focus on health, safety and environmental considerations throughout design development, including the application of relevant design risk management principles.
·Building effective relationships with the client, designers, consultants, supply chain partners and wider project stakeholders.
·Providing technical leadership, sharing knowledge and encouraging collaboration and continuous improvement across the design team.
What we''re looking for
Are you a confident and commercially aware design leader who can bring together technical expertise, strong management skills and a collaborative approach to deliver complex infrastructure projects successfully?
You''ll ideally bring:
·Extensive experience in civil engineering, infrastructure or water and wastewater projects.
·A strong track record in Design Management on major or complex infrastructure schemes.
·Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams and managing external consultants and specialist design partners.
·A thorough understanding of design coordination, buildability, construction methodologies and project delivery.
·Strong programme management skills, with the ability to coordinate design deliverables against demanding project milestones.
·Experience identifying design risks, managing technical interfaces and resolving complex engineering challenges.
·Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to value engineering, design optimisation and whole-life value.
·Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage teams at all levels.
·A solutions-focused mindset, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and drive continuous improvement.
·A degree-level qualification in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
·Chartered Engineer status (CEng, MICE or equivalent), or actively working towards professional accreditation.
Experience delivering major water or wastewater infrastructure projects would be particularly advantageous, as would experience working within collaborative client and contractor environments.
You don''t need to meet every requirement to be considered. If you have strong design management experience, a passion for engineering excellence and the ambition to help deliver infrastructure that makes a lasting difference, we''d encourage you to apply.
Our benefits include:
·Competitive salary.
·Competitive annual leave, plus an additional day off on your birthday.
·The option to buy additional annual leave.
·Private medical care.
·Pension scheme.
·Life assurance.
·Cycle to Work scheme.
·Shopping, restaurant vouchers, rewards and discounts.
·Training and development opportunities, including comprehensive skills-based training.
·Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity benefits.
·Flexible working opportunities.
·Employee Assistance Programme.
·Mental, physical and financial wellbeing support.
·24/7 virtual GP service.