Design Manager - Infrastructure & Highway Projects

Job Description What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

We have retained the Shropshire Professional Service Contract with key local client, Shropshire Council. We pride ourselves on the longevity of this contract, and the close working relationship we have developed over the last 23 years.

WSP work collaboratively as part of the Shropshire Alliance alongside Shropshire Council and Kier. We deliver a broad range of exciting projects, providing new and varied opportunities on this contract and within the wider WSP business.

The Design Manager is accountable for leading the delivery of all design and technical aspects of infrastructure projects from concept through to completion. The role is responsible for planning, coordinating and controlling multidisciplinary design activities, ensuring compliance with contractual, statutory and quality requirements whilst supporting project performance, programme, risk and commercial objectives.

Working collaboratively with Project Managers, discipline leads, clients and supply chain partners, the Design Manager will provide technical leadership, foster cross‑disciplinary collaboration and ensure successful delivery of design outputs that meet client expectations and business objectives.

• Leading the design and technical delivery of complex highway and infrastructure projects from conception through to completion.
• Planning, coordinating and managing multidisciplinary design teams to achieve programme, quality and financial objectives.
• Managing technical resources effectively to meet demanding project timescales and budgets.
• Developing design delivery plans and managing progress against agreed milestones.
• Leading technical reviews, design assurance activities and quality control processes.
• Communicating effectively with clients, contractors, discipline leads and key stakeholders.
• Strong working knowledge of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality requirements, including CDM 2015.
• Ensuring compliance with DMRB, MCDHW and other relevant statutory and contractual requirements.
• BIM-compliant preliminary and detailed design delivery, including information management processes.
• Supporting NEC4 contract administration and advising on design implications of compensation events, changes and risk matters.
• Sound knowledge of project controls, programming, risk management and project financial performance.
• Identifying opportunities to add value, improve sustainability outcomes and reduce carbon throughout the project lifecycle.
• Managing interfaces between disciplines, partner organisations, suppliers and contractors.
• Proven ability to apply a structured, risk-based approach to project delivery.
• Experience in mentoring and supporting technical teams whilst fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture.

You will be an integral part of a highly collaborative Shrewsbury-based team of approximately 65 people. As part of our commissions, we work across multi‑asset teams, providing both individual and cross‑asset support to deliver projects ranging from major schemes to strategic planning for our clients.

Our contracts across Shropshire and Gloucestershire offer exciting opportunities to work on a wide range of infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on highway improvement and active travel schemes across multiple counties.

We offer excellent prospects for career development and progression and are looking for individuals who share our ambition to deliver high‑quality, fast‑paced outcomes for the communities of Shropshire and beyond.

Our offices are located in the historic market town of Shrewsbury, offering an excellent quality of life with independent shops, restaurants, and riverside walks along the River Severn. We support flexible working, combining home working with…