Design Manager; Wastewater Non-Infrastructure

Design Manager (Wastewater Non-Infrastructure)
Derby, London, York, Glasgow, Bristol Permanent Office /Home Hybrid Working 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.

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow To further expand our Water team, we are looking for a Design Manager (Wastewater Non-Infrastructure) to join us. You’ll 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 be:

Managing and delivering the design of wastewater non-infrastructure projects across all AMP8 stages, from optioneering and outline design through to detailed design and commissioning support

Acting as Design Manager within collaborative delivery models (e.g. alliances and frameworks), ensuring integration across process, civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA disciplines

Ensuring best-for-project and Tot Ex-led design solutions, balancing capital and operational expenditure

Managing wastewater process design integration, including treatment performance, resilience, and compliance with tightening regulatory standards (e.g. nutrient removal, storm overflow reduction)
Embedding digital engineering and BIM (ISO 19650) principles into design delivery, supporting data-driven decision making

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 as a reliable delivery partner

Mentoring and developing engineers and designers, supporting capability growth aligned to AMP8 demand

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.

The first step to success in this role is that you are eager to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners, or customers. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. And you never get set in your ways but keep exploring new insights and ways to improve.

On top of that, you’ll have:

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

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 Tot Ex-driven solutions and understanding of Ofwat regulatory drivers

In-depth knowledge of wastewater treatment processes (e.g. activated sludge, S , M , sludge treatment, tertiary processes, 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 deliveryA place to work and so much more. At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow.

We support our customers’…