Senior Design Manager

Overview

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.