Job Description
Job Description: Senior Design Manager – Civil Engineering & Infrastructure
Overview
A leading independent civil engineering contractor is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to oversee the development, management, and assurance of engineering solutions for complex civil engineering, marine, coastal, river, and infrastructure projects. This role offers the opportunity to lead projects from tender and pre-construction through to construction and final delivery, ensuring that designs are safe, sustainable, buildable, and commercially viable while meeting client expectations.
The Senior Design Manager will provide technical leadership, working with pre-construction, engineering, commercial, and operational teams, while managing multidisciplinary design teams and collaborating with external consultants. The role is ideal for a design professional with a background in contracting, consultancy, or infrastructure and a passion for delivering innovative engineering solutions.
Responsibilities
As a Senior Design Manager, your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading and managing the design process from project conception through to construction delivery.
- Providing technical leadership across design and build projects, contractor-designed components, and complex temporary works.
- Collaborating with pre-construction and work-winning teams to develop design strategies, oversee consultant appointments, and support technical submissions.
- Coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated and cost-effective engineering solutions.
- Ensuring designs meet legislative, industry, client, and statutory requirements.
- Proactively managing design risks and overseeing engineering assurance activities.
- Driving value engineering to improve performance, sustainability, and project cost-efficiency.
- Championing CDM Regulation compliance and health & safety risk management within designs.
- Monitoring and improving design outputs to meet technical, commercial, and programme targets.
- Promoting a right-first-time approach to design quality and fostering continuous improvement.
- Supporting sustainability initiatives, including lower-carbon and environmentally responsible solutions.
- Mentoring and developing junior engineers and graduate team members.
- Engaging with stakeholders, such as clients and consultants, throughout the project lifecycle.
Qualifications
To excel in this role, the successful candidate will ideally possess the following:
Essential:
- Significant experience in civil engineering, marine, coastal, river, or broader infrastructure projects.
- Prior experience managing design on major infrastructure or complex civil engineering projects.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary design teams, consultants, and contractors.
- Knowledge of construction methodologies, design risk management, and engineering assurance.
- Expertise in managing design elements within design-and-build contracts.
- Practical site experience, creating safe and buildable engineering solutions.
- In-depth understanding of CDM Regulations and health & safety guidelines in design.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- A results-driven, collaborative, and solution-oriented approach to challenges.
Desirable:
- Chartered Engineer status (or working towards chartership).
- Familiarity with the water, energy, marine, coastal, or broader infrastructure sectors.
- Experience managing design under NEC contracts.
- Knowledge of sustainable, low-carbon, and environmentally conscious design principles.
- Expertise in temporary works coordination or management.
- Experience contributing to tender strategies and pre-construction activities.
Day-to-Day Duties
- Align design solutions with project requirements while balancing cost, quality, and programme needs.
- Liaise with both internal and external teams, including external consultants and specialist design providers.
- Attend project meetings, design reviews, and client presentations as needed.
- Conduct engineering risk assessments and technical reviews to ensure design quality and compliance.
- Work on continuous improvement and innovation across the organization’s technical processes.
- Provide regular updates to stakeholders and ensure designs are delivered on time and within budget.
- Travel to client offices, project sites, or other related locations, whenever necessary.
What the Role Offers
As a Senior Design Manager, you will have the opportunity to:
- Contribute to high-profile, complex, and technically challenging projects.
- Shape engineering and design strategies at all phases of project delivery.
- Take a leadership role that emphasizes sustainability, buildability, and commercial success.
- Grow your career through collaboration with experienced engineering, operational, and commercial teams.
- Inspire and mentor the next generation of engineers and technical professionals.
- Work in a collaborative environment that values technical innovation and successful project outcomes.
Working Arrangements
- Primarily office-based with opportunities to engage with project teams and operational personnel in the field.
- Occasional travel to project sites, client offices, design team meetings, and other business-related locations.
- Flexible and hybrid working options available depending on project and organizational needs.