Senior Design Manager

Part of the Volker Wessels UK Group, Volker Stevin is an industry-leading civil engineering business, providing complex and innovative engineering solutions across a wide range of sectors including maritime, flood risk management, defence, energy, water and regeneration. Collaborating with and drawing on the specialist skills of the group’s business units we deliver a truly integrated, multidisciplinary service.

Volker Stevin, part of the renowned Volker Wessels UK Group, is searching for an exceptional Senior Design Manager to join our industry‑leading civil engineering team. If you’re driven by complex challenges, inspired by multidisciplinary collaboration, and ready to influence some of the UK’s most vital infrastructure projects, this role will feel like home.

From maritime engineering to flood risk management, defence, energy, water, and major regeneration, our work transforms communities and protects the nation. You’ll be joining a business known for delivering innovative, integrated engineering solutions — and you’ll be at the heart of one of our long‑term frameworks, working between our Glasgow City Centre office and our project location in Helensburgh.

This role requires the successful candidate to achieve and maintain BPSS / SC security clearance. Eligibility may be influenced by nationality, place of birth, and residency history. Further details can be found via UK Security Vetting.

As Senior Design Manager, you will be the driving force behind the design coordination and technical excellence of the project. You’ll guide multiple design consultants, collaborate closely with clients and project teams, and ensure every design package is robust, buildable, and aligned with project strategy.

Your leadership will shape tender approaches, influence procurement strategies, and ensure that innovation and value engineering are embedded into every stage of the design journey.

• Lead the integrated design process across pre‑construction and construction phases.
• Challenge technical assumptions to strengthen pre‑contract strategy.
• Conduct technical design reviews ensuring compliance and quality.
• Define consultant scopes, responsibilities, and fee agreements.
• Drive value engineering and identify opportunities for value creation.
• Analyse Employer’s Requirements to clarify obligations and design direction.
• Monitor design quality across all deliverables.
• Manage design deliverables to procurement and construction teams.
• Lead and document Design Liaison Meetings.
• Coordinate design interfaces across all disciplines.
• Manage stakeholder relationships throughout the design process.
• Secure client approvals for design solutions and deliverables.
• Control internal scope changes.
• Promote innovation and cost‑effective design thinking.
• Review subcontractor design proposals.
• Maintain drawing and specification registers.
• Facilitate the design risk register.

• Relevant knowledge and experience in site management and construction techniques
• Knowledge of design processes
• Design Managers need to be Chartered Engineer MICE or equivalent
• Commercial awareness
• Preference for marine or M&E works experience
• Have an understanding of different Client procurement routes
• Experience of site/contract procedures would be an advantage
• Ability to organise, plan, programme and manage workloads
• Bidding experience would be desirable
• Contractor or Engineering practice background

If your past experience doesn’t match perfectly with every requirement of the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for us.

Volker Stevin is under the umbrella of Volker Wessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure.

By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within Volker Wessels UK, Volker Stevin are able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients.

We…