Location
Peterborough

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. We are seeking a Senior Design Manager responsible for the leadership, management and assurance of a c. £50m p.a. programme of repair, maintenance and capital works. This role is accountable for ensuring design solutions are developed, reviewed, assured and delivered in accordance with client requirements, regulatory obligations, industry standards and programme objectives.

Working across the full project lifecycle from scope definition, optioneering and feasibility through detailed design, construction support and handover, the Senior Design Manager will provide technical leadership and governance across multidisciplinary design teams. The role requires a proactive and collaborative approach to managing design risk, driving innovation, improving programme certainty and ensuring designs are safe, buildable, efficient and operationally effective.

Key responsibilities include:
- Design leadership and assurance across a portfolio of water and wastewater projects, ensuring all design outputs meet client and regulatory requirements
- Establishing and implementing robust design assurance processes, stage gate reviews and technical governance to ensure designs are safe, compliant and fit for purpose
- Managing and coordinating multidisciplinary internal and external design teams, integrating civil, mechanical, electrical, process, instrumentation and operational requirements
- Collaborating closely with operational teams, programme delivery teams, construction partners and supply chain to align designs with operational needs and future maintenance
- Supporting programme performance by reducing delivery risk and improving certainty through timely design development
- Managing design-related risks, opportunities and change controls throughout the project lifecycle
- Ensuring compliance with CDM Regulations, Safety in Design principles, industry standards and client specifications
- Building effective stakeholder relationships with clients, regulators, delivery partners and design consultants
- Driving continuous improvement, innovation, standardisation, efficiency, sustainability and whole-life asset performance
- Providing leadership, mentoring and technical guidance to design management and engineering teams while promoting a positive, high-performing and safety-led culture

Experience
- Significant experience leading multidisciplinary design teams within the Utilities and Water sector
- Proven track record of design management and assurance across major infrastructure, maintenance or capital delivery programmes
- Strong understanding of water and wastewater assets, networks and treatment infrastructure
- Experience managing design consultants, contractor design teams and supply chain partners
- Demonstrable knowledge of engineering governance, technical assurance and design review processes
- Experience implementing and leading design assurance frameworks, technical approvals and stage gate processes
- Strong understanding of CDM regulations, Safety in Design principles and regulatory compliance requirements
- Experience managing design-related risks, opportunities and change controls
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with ability to influence across client, operational and delivery organisations
- Experience delivering projects within AMP programmes and UK regulated water environments
- Knowledge of Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the Environment Agency and relevant water industry standards
- Experience of NEC contracts and collaborative delivery models
- Familiarity with digital engineering, BIM and information management requirements

About you
You will be a proactive and collaborative leader with the ability to provide technical governance and assurance across complex programmes operating within challenging delivery environments. You demonstrate a commitment to safety, innovation and continuous improvement, and you are capable of building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders to achieve successful programme outcomes.

Qualifications
- Degree qualified in Engineering, Design Management or a related discipline
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership