Design Manager - Clean Water / Wastewater

Job Title:
Design Manager - Clean Water / Wastewater

Salary:
65,000 to 85,000 (dependent on experience)

Location:
Multiple UK locations available (Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Croydon, London, Cambridge, Reading, Brighton, Leeds, Exeter)

Type:
Permanent Hybrid working

About the Role:
Our client is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the delivery of projects across a major UK water consultancy framework. This is a customer-facing role where you will manage a multi-disciplinary team and work closely with technical discipline leads to ensure successful delivery across either clean water or wastewater programmes.

The role will evolve in line with framework requirements and offers the opportunity to shape innovative, future-proofed solutions, embracing digital technology and mentoring the next generation of talent.

About the client:
Our client is a global engineering and consultancy organisation with a strong UK water presence, delivering work across the full project lifecycle - from feasibility and advisory services through to outline and detailed design. They are known for their collaborative culture, technical excellence, and long-term investment in staff development.

Key Responsibilities:
Manage and lead multi-disciplinary design teams across clean water and/or wastewater programmes
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high technical standards
Work closely with internal discipline leads to coordinate design delivery
Provide strong technical leadership and oversight across feasibility and outline design
Check and review technical deliverables, calculations, reports, and design outputs
Support bids, fee proposals, and offers of service where required
Build strong relationships with client teams and contribute to collaborative delivery
Mentor and support junior staff and help build team capability
Travel to client offices and sites as required
What Our Client is Looking For:
Essential:

Chartered Engineer status (CEng) with a recognised professional institution
Strong understanding of conventional and innovative water and/or wastewater treatment technologies
Proven track record of engineering technical leadership
Significant UK water sector experience delivering feasibility and outline design solutions
Experience checking and reviewing technical deliverables, calculations, and reports
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams
Confidence in client engagement and stakeholder management
Ability to support bids, fee proposals, and service offers
Desirable:

Experience building teams and developing junior engineers
Understanding of key sustainability and treatment drivers in the UK water sector
Knowledge of drivers for wastewater treatment investment in England and Wales
Strong technical report writing using clear, concise English
What Our Client Offers:
Hybrid working with flexibility agreed between you and your manager
Competitive pension contributions
Life assurance and income protection
Private medical insurance and health cash plan
Enhanced family leave policies
33-35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays), increasing with service
Professional institution subscription paid
Structured learning, mentoring, and development opportunities
Employee ownership model and annual bonus schemes
Active inclusion networks and wellbeing support
Eligibility:
Please note: our client is not able to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, now or in the future. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK via an alternative route that does not require sponsorship.

Opportunity for Growth:
This role offers a clear route to broaden your leadership impact within a major UK framework, with opportunities to develop client-facing responsibility, influence technical direction, and support team growth across a long-term programme of work.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.