Design Manager

Talented People

Job Title: Design Manager (HTR)
Location: Havant, Hampshire
Salary: £75,000 – £85,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time

About the Role

Talented People are recruiting on behalf of a respected civil engineering and infrastructure contractor seeking a highly experienced Design Manager to lead and manage the design process for High-Risk Reservoir (HTR) projects. The successful candidate will take ownership from concept through to construction, ensuring compliance, buildability, and excellence in delivery.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead and manage the full design lifecycle from concept through to delivery.

* Coordinate and integrate multi-disciplinary design inputs from internal and external teams.

* Oversee NEC4 contract obligations including submissions, technical queries, and change control.

* Ensure design activities comply with CDM 2015 and Reservoirs Act 1975.

* Facilitate design reviews, technical assurance, and constructability assessments.

* Align design outputs with the construction programme, identifying and mitigating risks.

* Promote innovation and value engineering to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

* Prepare and review Flood Plans, Emergency Drawdown Procedures, and Safety Reports.

* Coordinate with clients and Panel Engineers throughout design and construction stages.

* Maintain robust design documentation, decision records, and approval tracking.

* Ensure compliance with statutory oversight and certification from Construction and Supervising Engineers.

* Oversee design integration of dam-specific elements including hydraulic, geotechnical, and structural works.

* Collaborate with internal project management, site, and commercial teams to ensure deliverables meet quality, safety, and timeline standards.

* Provide design leadership that drives collaboration and consistency across disciplines.

Skills and Experience Required

* Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering or related discipline (Chartered status preferred).

* Extensive experience managing design in large-scale infrastructure or dam/reservoir projects.

* Proven understanding of NEC4 contracts and CDM regulations.

* Strong technical knowledge of hydraulic, geotechnical, and structural design.

* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

* Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex design challenges.

* Highly organised, proactive, and detail-focused with strong problem-solving ability