Design Lead - Sports Infrastructure & Field of Play
An established specialist design consultancy is seeking an experienced Design Lead to join its growing Design team, supporting the technical delivery and multidisciplinary coordination of a diverse portfolio of sports facility and infrastructure projects.
The consultancy provides specialist design and consultancy services within the sports sector, delivering projects ranging from major stadiums and elite training facilities through to wider sports infrastructure developments.
Working alongside designers, engineers, BIM technicians and specialist consultants, the successful candidate will lead the coordination and technical delivery of engineering design packages, translating specialist performance requirements into fully coordinated, practical and buildable solutions.
Based at the organisation's head office in West Yorkshire, the role offers the opportunity to work on major UK and international projects, collaborate with leading multidisciplinary teams and develop specialist expertise within a growing area of engineering design.
The Role
The Design Lead will take responsibility for the technical delivery, coordination and quality of design information across assigned projects, working closely with internal teams, external consultants, clients and contractors.
This is a multidisciplinary engineering design role, combining technical design coordination, project delivery and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will oversee design development from early concept through detailed design, construction issue documentation and construction-stage support.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the multidisciplinary design and coordination of stadiums, training facilities and sports infrastructure projects.
- Coordinate engineering systems associated with Field of Play environments, including drainage, irrigation, water infrastructure, undersoil heating, ventilation, monitoring and associated mechanical and electrical interfaces.
- Coordinate design information with architectural, structural, civil, MEP, landscape and utility disciplines.
- Develop and review technical drawings, BIM models, engineering details, technical schedules and design documentation.
- Prepare and coordinate performance specifications, bills of quantities (BoQs), basis of design documents, end-of-stage reports and technical submissions.
- Review technical calculations, contractor submissions, requests for information (RFIs) and shop drawings during design and construction.
- Ensure design packages are technically robust, fully coordinated and suitable for construction.
- Take ownership of design deliverables, technical priorities and programmes across allocated projects.
- Coordinate designers, BIM technicians and specialist consultants to achieve project requirements.
- Work within BIM-led multidisciplinary environments, including federated models and Common Data Environments (CDEs).
- Coordinate project deliverables against Task Information Delivery Plans (TIDPs), Master Information Delivery Plans (MIDPs) and wider project programmes.
- Monitor design progress against agreed scope, programme and allocated project hours.
- Support project managers in identifying scope changes, additional services and variations.
- Lead design reviews and identify technical, coordination and construction risks.
- Act as a key technical design contact for clients, architects, engineers and contractors.
- Represent the design team at project meetings, coordination sessions and technical workshops.
- Prepare and deliver client presentations covering design development, engineering solutions, risks and recommendations.
- Manage technical queries and coordinate responses with specialist consultants.
- Build effective working relationships with clients and multidisciplinary project teams.
What They're Looking For
The consultancy is particularly interested in candidates with experience working within an engineering or multidisciplinary design environment, ideally from a:
- Civil Engineering background.
- Mechanical Engineering environment.
- MEP / Building Services background.
- Drainage, Water or Infrastructure discipline.
- Multidisciplinary Engineering Consultancy.
You should have:
- At least five years' experience within an engineering design environment.
- Strong practical engineering design and multidisciplinary coordination experience.
- Experience interpreting and coordinating technical drawings, pipework, drainage, levels, plant and utility interfaces.
- Experience working within BIM-led project environments.
- Familiarity with AutoCAD and/or Revit.
- Experience preparing technical documentation, reports and engineering specifications.
- Strong understanding of design coordination, technical interfaces and construction requirements.
- Good communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
- Confidence engaging directly with clients, architects, engineers, contractors and other members of multidisciplinary project teams.
- Commercial awareness of project scope, programme, resources and deliverables.
- Ability to manage multiple technical priorities while maintaining design quality and programme requirements.
- Experience with Civil 3D and/or Navisworks would be advantageous.
- Experience preparing performance specifications, bills of quantities, design reports and technical or client presentations would also be beneficial.
- A degree, HNC/HND or equivalent professional experience in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Building Services, Infrastructure or another relevant engineering discipline would be advantageous.
- Professional accreditation, or progress towards Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status, would be desirable but is not essential.
- Previous experience within sports-surface or Field of Play design would be desirable but is not essential. Specialist training will be provided in areas including sports pitch drainage, irrigation, undersoil heating, ventilation, monitoring systems, hybrid turf systems and the requirements of international sporting organisations.
What's In It For You
- Opportunity to work on major stadiums, elite training facilities and sports infrastructure projects.
- Exposure to multidisciplinary and international project teams.
- Opportunities for international project exposure and occasional travel.
- Training and development in specialist sports and Field of Play systems.
- Continued professional development within engineering design and multidisciplinary coordination.
- Opportunity to work alongside experienced architects, engineers, designers and specialist consultants.
- Collaborative multidisciplinary working environment.
- Full-time working hours, Monday to Friday, 08:45-17:00.
- Office-based role in West Yorkshire, with hybrid or remote working considered depending on experience.
- Company events.
- Company pension.
- Cycle-to-work scheme.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
- Financial planning services.
- Health and wellbeing programme.
- Life insurance.
- On-site parking.
- Sick pay.
- Health cash plan.
- Discounted gym memberships.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Civil or MEP design professional looking to apply their engineering expertise within a specialist international sector, with the opportunity to contribute to major projects and develop their knowledge of stadium design, sports infrastructure and specialist Field of Play systems.
Please apply below or contact Mica Wightman at Calibre Search for more information about this position on (phone number removed).
Calibre Search promote equality in the workplace and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified candidates regardless of their sex, race, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age. We act as both an employment agency and employment business.
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