Design Manager
| Posting date: | 20 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £70,000 to £80,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 04 December 2025 |
| Location: | Colchester, Essex, CO1 1DF |
| Company: | Fawkes & Reece |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | JC_DMAng_1763635436 |
Summary
Design Manager- Colchester- Water & MEICA:
My client is a leading, national civil engineering contractor who are looking for a dynamic design manager to join their team. My client has historically subcontracted out their designs, but they are looking to bring this in-house. This is not only a chance to join a fantastic company, but to also make a lasting mark on their design processes. You will be transforming their design elements as there's a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and re-imagine. Whatever stage you're at in your career, with my client you'll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive.
Where will you be working?
- We help our clients safeguard the water supply, improve environmental performance and manage demand for future generations. We enhance and extend asset life, ensuring compliance with water quality and environmental standards. We're problem solvers with over 140 years of combined experience in engineering and infrastructure.
- This role will be within our water and wastewater capital project delivery team. Our teams deliver large-scale capital programmes aimed at keeping water infrastructure resilient for the long-term while protecting the environment.
Role responsibilities:
- As our Design Manager you'll be part of our Management Team involved in the different supervision of projects from inception to completion. You'll be working on a water framework in Colchester.
- Working under the Framework Manager you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Design team and sub-contractor designers.
- The role will require the effective utilisation of time and resources to meet budgets and delivery programmes.
- You'll be expected to carry out the implementation and monitoring of CDM and quality. Ensuring all designs meets required water industry regulations & client approved standards.
- Day to day leadership, mentoring for the Design Team. Lead the definition and implementation of all training required to ensure alignment with the Engineering Standards.
- Be accountable for producing designs on time, on budget, meeting agreed SLA's, Act as an ambassador for the company by supporting, promoting and implementing all company and Business Unit initiatives.
- Dedicated to driving cultural change into the Design Teams. Eliminating/minimising hazards in construction and in operation.
- You will be responsible for timely completion of multiple concurrent projects, safely and within budget. Facilitate internal and external review and progress meetings.
- Look for strategic technologies to improve the delivery projects.
- Support innovations and develop new technologies to improve the delivery of the alliance's goals. Help develop new solutions and work through technical issues.
Requirements:
- Knowledge and experience in the water industry (ideally)
- Degree in engineering or other related fields
- Trained and experienced in Design in the construction industry
- Experienced within a managerial role with a proven track record of influencing client judgement
- SHEQ / Industry / Legal requirements (beneficial)
- Comprehensive IT abilities including MS Suite and ACAD
- A good communicator, able to communicate detailed data to a non-data literate audience and are able to pass on skills
- The role will be a Hybrid, requiring regular communication with other members construction and delivery team based in their local office
Benefits:
- Matched pension scheme
- Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Employee assistance programme
- My Rewards portal, access to 1000's of retail discounts
- Life assurance
- Cycle to work, salary finance and give as you earn schemes
- Enhanced maternity, paternity leave and adoption leave
- Reward and recognition scheme
- Company car and fuel card with a range of EV and hybrid vehicles to choose from
- Salary sacrifice EV/ Hybrid car scheme
- Health Care Cash Plan, giving you the ability to claim back medical expenses for things like dental, eyecare and physiotherapy and much more!
- Private health care and health care cash plan for you and your family
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays