Location
Derby, London, York, Glasgow, Bristol - Permanent Office/Home Hybrid Working

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Do you want to be part of a growing Water Design team? Can you lead and inspire multidisciplinary design teams? Are you experienced in delivering wastewater infrastructure solutions within UK water frameworks? This is an exciting opportunity to join COWI as a Design Manager (Wastewater Infrastructure) overseeing the design and delivery of wastewater infrastructure projects aligned to AMP8 programmes. You will support water companies in improving network resilience, reducing storm overflows, and enhancing environmental performance.

Your key responsibilities will include managing and overseeing design delivery across all AMP8 stages from optioneering and concept design through to detailed design and construction support; acting as Design Manager within collaborative delivery models such as alliances and frameworks; coordinating multidisciplinary teams across civil, mechanical, electrical, and ICA disciplines; promoting best-for-project and TotEx-driven design strategies that align capital spending with operational performance; directing design of wastewater networks including gravity sewers, rising mains, pumping stations, CSOs, and stormwater management systems; supporting storm overflow reduction and network resilience programmes including storage solutions, SuDS, and nature-based interventions; embedding digital engineering and BIM (ISO 19650) principles into design delivery; managing design programmes, resources, risks, and budgets to meet AMP8 targets; managing design risk assessments and ensuring safe-by-design principles in accordance with CDM Regulations; collaborating with contractors, suppliers, and client teams to ensure buildable and efficient designs; supporting carbon reduction and sustainability objectives; contributing to bids, tenders, and framework opportunities; building and sustaining trusted client relationships; and mentoring engineers and designers to build capability for AMP8 demands.

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world by applying knowledge, curiosity, and courage to create solutions for a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability and embed environmental management, social responsibility, and good governance into our business practices. We value diversity, development, and cultivate an environment of belonging and fun to bring out the best in our people both at work and at home.

Experience
- Extensive experience in wastewater infrastructure design within UK water sector frameworks (AMP7/AMP8)
- Demonstrated experience in a Design Manager or senior design leadership role within collaborative environments (alliances, frameworks)
- Experience in design of sewer networks, rising mains, CSOs, pumping stations, and stormwater management systems
- Proven ability to deliver TotEx-driven solutions and understanding of Ofwat regulatory drivers
- Solid understanding of hydraulic modelling and design tools (e.g. InfoWorks ICM, MicroDrainage, or equivalent)
- Experience working under NEC3/NEC4 contracts in a Design Manager or Designer’s PM capacity
- Knowledge of digital engineering, BIM (ISO 19650), and common data environments
- Thorough knowledge of health and safety in design (CDM Regulations) and application of safe-by-design principles
- Strong stakeholder engagement and client-facing skills
- Commercial awareness including programme and cost control within design delivery

About you
You are eager to collaborate respectfully with colleagues, partners, and customers, building strong relationships by delivering on your promises. You are open-minded, continuously exploring new insights and ways to improve. You demonstrate leadership and mentoring skills to develop engineers and designers to meet AMP8 demands.

Qualifications
- Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline
- Achieved Chartered Engineer status (e.g. MICE or equivalent)