Overview As a Design Manager in WSP’s Water team, you lead design projects from concept to completion, ensuring high standards and regulatory compliance. You’ll work with cross-functional teams and external clients on complex, mid-scale programs, helping deliver strategic regional and national initiatives. You drive Safety by Design and manage design delivery through coordinated workshops and effective communications. This role offers growth within a global firm that values innovation and inclusion.
Pay / Benefits - work-life balance
- hybrid working policy
- inclusivity and belonging
- Thrive wellbeing programme
- Virtual GP service
- gymflex scheme up to 40% off gym memberships with WSP benefits program
Responsibilities - Lead design management for mid-scale and complex projects, overseeing resources, timelines, and budgets from concept through to completion
- Ensure projects comply with health, safety, environmental, and quality standards
- Manage client relationships and collaborate with engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions
- Lead client and project meetings, reporting on progress, financials, and addressing technical challenges
- Drive Safety by Design and ensure compliance with UK CDM Regulations
- Coordinate cross-disciplinary design activities with internal and external stakeholders to support delivery
- Facilitate Design Team Meetings, record minutes, and ensure action closure
- Improve and implement project delivery processes (e.g., change control)
- Coordinate disciplines through target-led workshops to resolve critical design issues
- Handle RFIs, early warnings, and communications to mitigate project risk
- Review design transmittals (drawings, specs, reports) for alignment with scope and client needs
- Evaluate quotations against scope, budget, and client requirements
- Manage changes and delays to keep project on track and mitigate impacts
- Update design delivery programme, resources and instructions; understand design responsibilities
- Itemise scope of services, briefing schedules, and deliverables against industry standards
- Promote efficiency, innovation, and buildability across design stages with the wider team
- Coordinate across all internal and external disciplines to ensure quality and value
- Deliver multiple packages and lead teams, reporting to Senior Project Leads
Key requirements - MEng/BEng/BSc or HND/HNC in Engineering, Environmental or numerate science subject
- Member of a professional institute (Chartered or working towards)
- Experience in infrastructure programme and project delivery with complex projects
- Significant experience in project and contract management with knowledge of H&S standards and regulations
- Leadership and people management
- Strong communication and stakeholder management
- Collaborative and cross-functional teamwork
- Design management for complex projects
- Knowledge of H&S standards and UK CDM Regulations
- Project and contract management
