Design Manager

About the @one Alliance

The Anglian Water @one Alliance is a totally collaborative organisation made up of nine partner companies (Anglian Water, SWECO, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, and Skanska) and an extended supply chain, delivering over half of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme.

We are gearing up for our most exciting and challenging Asset Management Period yet, known as AMP8, this will see us deliver a programme of work larger than we’ve ever delivered before. We’ll be embarking on a new kind of project delivery focusing on nature-based solutions like wetlands and urban drainage schemes.

We are driving change, empowering us to set global benchmarks and build a better environment, with the opportunity to offer enhanced growth and development to our workforce. We’re looking to build on our existing teams with an environment built for career progression.

With such an exciting portfolio of projects planned for AMP8 to keep the water flowing across the region, our ability to manage our work and outperform against our customer’s expectations will come under greater scrutiny.

We need aspiring driven talent to help us achieve our ambitious targets, are you ready to join us as we prepare to deliver the most creative and innovative AMP we have ever seen?

About Sweco

Transforming society together, we're planning and designing sustainable communities and cities of the future.

Solving the great societal challenges of our time is more relevant, demanding and inspiring than ever before. At Sweco, we bring together experts with different perspectives and skills to develop solutions that address the challenges of urbanisation, harness the positive power of digitalisation and make societies more sustainable.

We offer our clients a combination of global expertise and local presence, adapted to their business and reality. Our ambition is to be our clients’ most relevant partner, working together to help them solve their challenges, today and into the future.

To ensure we support our objectives of collaboration across the business whilst providing our workforce with the agility to achieve a healthy work/ life balance, we are asking our employees to have office or site presence on an average of three days a week.

We’re looking for an experienced Design Manager

to lead the engineering design delivery of a diverse portfolio of water recycling projects across the West region. You’ll head up a multi-disciplinary engineering team, driving innovative and sustainable solutions that improve wastewater treatment performance, reduce carbon, and enhance natural capital.

Working collaboratively across the @one Alliance, you’ll champion new ways of working—focusing on outcomes over outputs—while embracing digital technologies and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design delivery across a portfolio of water recycling and wastewater projects
• Develop and manage Engineering Project Plans covering scope, programme, cost, risk and resources
• Direct multi-disciplinary teams (process, mechanical, electrical, civil) to deliver high-quality design solutions
• Collaborate with suppliers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders to integrate designs effectively
• Drive affordability, value and low-carbon, environmentally sustainable solutions
• Ensure compliance with CDM regulations and lead a strong health & safety culture
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing engineering team
• Support innovation, standardisation and the use of digital engineering (including 3D modelling)
• Work closely with wider alliance functions (delivery, procurement, construction) to achieve project outcomes
  
  

About You

• Degree in Engineering (or equivalent)
• Chartered, or working towards Chartered status
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and delivering design for capital projects
• Strong understanding of CDM regulations and design responsibilities
• Experience within the water sector or infrastructure projects
• Skilled in managing risk, programme delivery and project affordability
• Strong leadership, collaboration and decision-making skills

Passion for sustainability, innovation and continuous improvement

Why Join Us?

Be part of a forward-thinking, collaborative alliance delivering industry-leading infrastructure that protects and enhances the environment. You’ll play a key role in shaping resilient water recycling systems, while developing your career in a supportive and progressive environment that values innovation, diversity and growth.

If you believe you have the skill set required, are keen to join a business with genuine opportunities for career progression, then we’d love to hear from you.

Let’s transform society together at Sweco!

Employee Benefits

• Flexible and hybrid working (Flexworks Policy)
• Competitive pension contribution
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance
• Company car or car allowance
• Discretionary Annual Bonus Scheme
• Payment of two relevant professional subscriptions
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days per year)
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (wellbeing, mental health, financial and work advice)
• Employee discounts via Sweco Benefit Select (Faircare)
• Salary Sacrifice Electric Vehicle Scheme
• We plant a tree for all new starters!
  
  

@OneAlliance vision

A Collaborative Alliance, Driving Change. Empowering Us To Set Global Benchmarks And Building a Better Environment For Our Customers. We Strive To

Empower our people; Delight our Customers; Embrace digital transformation; Deliver brilliance.

@OneAlliance Values

To bring environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve through our commitment to Love Every Drop we:

Build trust; Do the right thing; Are always exploring

The Anglian Water @one Alliance. Nine partners, endless opportunities.

Let’s transform society together at Sweco.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

It’s important to us that that all our colleagues thrive at work - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects the contribution individuals can bring to Sweco. We aim to promote equality, inclusivity and diversity for everyone.

Here at Sweco we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity.

We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. To find out more The Armed Forces Covenant - Our Commitments | Sweco UK .

We are an accredited Real Living Wage Employer which reflects our commitment to fair pay and support for all colleagues.

We are also proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer, and will interview applicants covered by the Equality Act 2010 that opt into the guaranteed interview scheme on the application form and meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If I have a disability, can I get help (e.g. “reasonable adjustments”) with the application process?

If you’re an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, please contact [email protected] for assistance.

In order to address your request the following information is needed:

• Name
• The best method for contacting you (Phone or email)
• The position title
• Requisition/vacancy number
  
  

Upon receipt of this information, we’ll respond to you promptly to obtain more information about your request.

Please note: we reserve the right to close vacancies before the advertised closing date.

Sweco UK&I have an internal resourcing team who are responsible for all recruiting activity. We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted agencies who we work with on those “hard to fill” roles.

We have defined processes for recruitment applications and it is company policy not to accept speculative CVs. Any speculative CVs

received into the business (whether to a manager or member of the resourcing team) will become the property of Sweco and the agency will not be eligible for an introductory fee.

Our Preferred Supplier List was reviewed in November 2025 and we are not looking to add any additional agencies. We’ll be reviewing the PSL again at the end of 2026 and non-compliance with the above statements could be detrimental to you having the opportunity to be included.

Our Talent Community for experienced professionals is a great way to keep up to date with our latest news, insights, future vacancies, as well as gaining access to exclusive events hosted by our experts.

To learn more Join Our Talent Community - Sweco United Kingdom