Design Manager

Aqua Consultants Ltd; Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A civil engineering consultancy in Warrington is seeking a Design Manager to oversee wastewater infrastructure projects. The role includes project delivery, team management, and innovative solution generation within a hybrid work model. Successful candidates will have extensive experience in the water industry, an engineering degree, and strong leadership skills. A competitive salary and excellent benefits package are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary + discretionary bonus

Company pension

25 days annual leave + Bank holidays + option to purchase additional leave

Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme

Company mobile phone and laptop provided

Training and career progression opportunities

Life Assurance Scheme 4 x annual salary

Electric Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Medicash cash plan

Refer a friend scheme

Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay and leave

Qualifications

• Extensive experience and understanding of the water industry.
• Experience in managing project teams and mentoring junior engineers.
• Desire for continual learning and drive to improve through sharing information.

Responsibilities

• Deliver project tasks and manage a multi-disciplinary team.
• Generate innovative solutions to problems.
• Line-manage and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Water industry expertise

Technical report writing

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Education

BEng, BSc, or equivalent in any engineering discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Design Manager (Water & Wastewater)

Hybrid working with 2‑3 days per week in United Utilities Lingley Mere office. Site visits as required.

Overview

Aqua Consultants has an exciting opportunity to work with our partner United Utilities on their Better Rivers Programme. You will be involved in projects that improve infrastructure and reduce spills to watercourse by 60%.

You will deliver project tasks, designs and manage a multi‑disciplinary team delivering solutions on wastewater infrastructure and non‑infrastructure projects at various stages in the project life cycle, ensuring they are delivered within agreed timeframes and budget.

Responsibilities & Requirements

• Extensive experience and understanding of the water industry, water and sewage treatment processes and equipment/system requirements.
• Feasibility, outline, detailed design and technical reviews.
• Proposal fee / hours estimation for design schemes.
• Understanding of DSEAR, CDM, WIMES, British and European Standards and other statutory, regulatory, and non‑regulatory provisions and guidance.
• Generate innovative and/or technically differentiated solutions to problems, delivering added value for clients.
• Provide a safe working culture within project teams and promote safety.
• Deliver complex projects successfully within budget and on schedule to clients’ requirements.
• Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Commit to supporting your team to ensure a high‑quality service in delivery.
• Lead your team of diverse individuals, encouraging new ways of thinking to provide an agile delivery environment.
• Provide a proactive risk identification and mitigation environment that allows for innovation and creative agile delivery.
• Line‑manage and mentor junior engineers including training and development.
• Build and develop positive relationships through support of business partners and key clients.
• Experience in implementing and having input into company technical assurance.
• Manage client relationships and frameworks to ensure mutual value, hitting KPIs while exceeding client expectations.
• Generate business in line with existing frameworks and new project and framework opportunities.
• Commercial and contractual awareness.
• Desire to understand and promote the Company purpose, vision, values, and culture.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 packages.
• An industry applicable BEng, BSc, or equivalent in any engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer or working towards this; relevant experience will also be considered.
• Recognition that satisfying the customer is key; customers include end‑users and other departments.
• Work remotely while successfully achieving deliverable‑based outcomes through a virtual team.
• Prioritise varied workload and demonstrate good time management to meet deadlines.
• Organisational skill and passion for excellence.
• Motivational skills; encourage others to work to own high standards of quality and compliance.
• Desire for continual learning and drive to improve others through sharing information.
• Drive to push yourself outside comfort zones with a “can do” attitude, willingness to work through problems and make decisions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and clients.
• Good interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• A trustworthy and ethical approach, exercising discretion when required.

Examples of work types

• Site surveys and plant capacity assessments.
• Technical report writing at all stages of project lifecycle.
• Production of design risk assessments, project plans, project quality plans, method and risk assessment, forecasting reports (utilisation, work to date and cost to complete).
• Fee proposals or offers of service; development of activity schedules / work plans.
• Participation in Hazard Studies including HAZOP, HAZCON and HAZCOM.
• Development of standard and bespoke design solutions for the water industry and beyond.
• Review of calculations, drawings and reports prepared by others.
• Knowledge of United Utilities engineering standards and specification.
• Experience of designing CSO’s and storage tanks.

Benefits

• Competitive salary + discretionary bonus
• Company pension
• 25 days annual leave + Bank holidays + option to purchase additional leave.
• Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme
• Company mobile phone and laptop provided.
• Training and career progression opportunities
• Life Assurance Scheme 4 x annual salary
• Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (with access to GP appointments, Physio appointments and Mental Health Support)
• Medicash cash plan (Money back on everyday healthcare costs such as dental, glasses, contact lenses)
• Refer a friend scheme.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay and leave

Why Aqua Consultants?

We are a fast‑growing organisation with highly experienced staff at the heart of everything we do. We offer more than just a day job – competitive salaries and a great working environment. You’ll be able to input into the development and growth of our business whilst we help you progress in your career.

Adler and Allan are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. If you require any support with your application, whatever the circumstance, please let us know.

If you feel you have the skills, personality, and experience, please apply today!

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Industries: Civil Engineering and Utilities