Senior Design Manager

Overview

Job Description

Senior Design Manager

Design Leadership & Management

• Lead the utilities and infrastructure design process from concept through detailed design, construction, and handover.
• Develop and manage the design strategy, design programmes, and deliverables schedule for utilities and infrastructure packages.
• Coordinate the integration of utilities and infrastructure designs with architectural, structural, civil, MEP, and specialist disciplines.
• Chair and document design coordination meetings, technical workshops, and design reviews.
• Drive value engineering and optioneering to optimise design solutions for cost, programme, safety, sustainability, and operability.

Utilities & Infrastructure Focus

• Manage design for all utilities and infrastructure elements, which may include:
• + Power, telecoms, and data networks.
• + Potable water, fire water, and irrigation.
• + Foul sewerage, stormwater drainage, and waste systems.
• + District cooling/heating, gas, and other district infrastructure as required.
• + Roads, site-wide civil infrastructure, and external works interfaces.
• Ensure designs comply with the requirements and standards of all relevant utility providers, authorities, and statutory bodies.
• Lead coordination of diversions, upgrades, temporary supplies, and permanent connections with utility companies and authorities.
• Proactively manage interface risks between utilities/infrastructure and buildings, public realm, transportation, and adjacent developments.

Stakeholder & Communication Management

• Act as the primary design interface for utilities and infrastructure with:
• + Internal stakeholders: project management, construction, planning, commercial, HSE, quality, operations, and asset management teams.
• + External stakeholders: clients, end-users, consultants, contractors, utility providers, statutory authorities, and third parties.
• Communicate complex technical issues in a clear, concise, and structured manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Prepare and present design status reports, risk registers, design issue logs, and key decision papers to senior management and clients.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with utility providers and authorities to facilitate timely approvals and permits.

Design Governance, Compliance & Quality

• Ensure that all utilities and infrastructure designs comply with:
• + Project brief and employer’s requirements.
• + Local codes, regulations, and authority requirements.
• + Health, Safety, and Environment standards.
• + Company design management procedures, BIM standards, and quality processes.
• Lead design reviews, technical audits, and constructability reviews; capture and close out actions.
• Ensure design risk assessments are completed and that design intent supports safe construction, operation, and maintenance.

Programme, Risk & Change Management

• Develop and monitor design programmes and milestones for utilities and infrastructure packages, ensuring alignment with the overall project schedule.
• Identify and manage design risks, constraints, and assumptions; maintain an up-to-date design risk register.
• Manage and document design changes, scope developments, and interfaces; support the commercial team with change impact assessments.
• Support the resolution of design-related issues on site, responding in a timely manner to RFIs, technical queries, and non-conformances.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentoring to internal design managers, engineers, and coordinators.
• Manage and coordinate external design consultants, ensuring clear scopes, deliverable requirements, and performance expectations.
• Promote a collaborative, solution-oriented culture across design, construction, and commercial teams.
• Support capability development in utilities and infrastructure design management through lessons learned, knowledge sharing, and standardisation of best practices.

What Required Skills You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Extensive experience as a Design Manager / Senior Design Manager on large, complex, multi-phase developments or major infrastructure projects.
• Proven track record managing utilities and infrastructure design (power, water, sewer, drainage, telecoms, district networks, and related civil infrastructure).
• Experience coordinating with utility providers, authorities, and regulatory bodies for approvals, permits, and connections.
• Demonstrable experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams and managing external design consultants.
• Experience in design management in a contractor, client, or major consultant environment.
• Strong understanding of utilities and infrastructure design standards, codes, and authority requirements for Saudi specifically in dry utilities.
• Proven ability to interpret and coordinate complex design information, drawings, and BIM models.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to:
• + Clearly explain technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• + Prepare concise reports, presentations, and decision papers.
• + Facilitate effective meetings and workshops.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills, able to manage expectations and resolve conflicts.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring

• Chartered status or equivalent professional registration (or working towards) is preferred.
• Good knowledge of constructability, temporary works considerations, and safe-by-design principles.
• Familiarity with BIM processes, common data environments, and digital collaboration tools
• Proactive, structured, and delivery-focused with strong organizational skills.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to influence, lead, and drive outcomes across diverse teams.
• High attention to detail combined with the ability to maintain a strategic, project-wide perspective.
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working in fast-paced, complex project environments.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.
• We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars!
• Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!
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• To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.