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

Hours
Permanent, 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 wastewater treatment design and delivery? Then, read on. This could be the next adventure in your career.

As a Design Manager (Wastewater Non-Infrastructure), you will be responsible for the design and delivery of wastewater treatment and non-infrastructure projects, including treatment works upgrades, process optimisation, sludge treatment, pumping stations, and associated MEICA and civil assets.

Your key responsibilities will include managing and delivering design across all AMP8 stages from optioneering and outline design through to detailed design and commissioning support; acting as Design Manager within collaborative delivery models such as alliances and frameworks, ensuring integration across process, civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA disciplines; and ensuring best-for-project and TotEx-led design solutions balancing capital and operational expenditure.

You will manage wastewater process design integration, including treatment performance, resilience, and compliance with tightening regulatory standards such as nutrient removal and storm overflow reduction. Embedding digital engineering and BIM (ISO 19650) principles into design delivery to support data-driven decision making will be essential.

Additional responsibilities include managing design programmes, resources, risks, and budgets to meet AMP8 delivery milestones; overseeing design risk management activities (HAZID, HAZOP, ALM) and embedding safe-by-design principles to comply with CDM Regulations; collaborating with contractors, suppliers, and client teams to deliver integrated and buildable solutions; supporting carbon reduction and sustainability objectives including low-carbon design and circular economy principles; contributing to bids, tenders, and framework growth within AMP8 and beyond; building and sustaining trusted client relationships; and mentoring and developing engineers and designers to support capability growth aligned to AMP8 demand.

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world by applying knowledge, curiosity, and courage to create the solutions needed today 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 differences, development, and cultivate an environment of belonging and fun, bringing out the best in you at work and at home.

Experience
- Extensive experience in wastewater non-infrastructure design within UK water sector frameworks (AMP7/AMP8)
- Established experience serving as a Design Manager or senior design leader in cooperative delivery structures such as alliances and frameworks
- Demonstrable experience delivering TotEx-driven solutions and understanding of Ofwat regulatory drivers
- In-depth knowledge of wastewater treatment processes including activated sludge, SBR, MBR, sludge treatment, tertiary processes, and nutrient removal
- Experience working under NEC3/NEC4 contracts in a Design Manager or Designer’s PM capacity
- Thorough understanding of digital engineering, BIM (ISO 19650), and the use of common data environments
- Knowledge of sustainability, carbon reduction, and environmental compliance within water projects
- Demonstrated leadership, stakeholder engagement, and client-facing skills
- Commercial awareness including programme and cost control within design delivery

About you
You are eager to collaborate with colleagues, partners, and customers, acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. You are open to new insights and continuously seek ways to improve. You have strong leadership qualities and the ability to build trusted client relationships.

Qualifications
- Degree-qualified in Civil, Mechanical or Process Engineering (or a related discipline)
- Achieved Chartered Engineer status (e.g. MICE, MCIWEM, IChemE or equivalent), or working towards chartership