Design Manager

Design Manager
Major Civil Engineering / Defence Infrastructure Location: Plymouth, Devon
Salary: £75,000 – £80,000 + Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits Package
Sector: Civil Engineering / Marine / Defence Infrastructure
The Opportunity
A leading UK civil engineering contractor is looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to join its team delivering a major programme of infrastructure works at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth.
This is an opportunity to become involved in one of the UK's most significant defence infrastructure programmes, supporting the long-term redevelopment and modernisation of facilities used by the Royal Navy's submarine fleet.
The wider programme involves substantial investment in marine and civil engineering infrastructure, including dock and berth refurbishments, reinforced concrete structures, major structural alterations, new operational buildings and associated mechanical and electrical infrastructure.
These are technically demanding projects being delivered within a live, highly regulated naval environment, requiring careful coordination between design disciplines, construction teams and multiple stakeholders.
With a substantial pipeline of work ahead, the contractor offers long-term career opportunities on complex, high-value engineering projects.
The Role
As Design Manager , you will take responsibility for coordinating and managing the design process across major civil engineering works, ensuring design information is developed, reviewed and delivered in line with project requirements.
Working closely with the Project Manager, construction teams, specialist subcontractors and external design consultants, you will play a central role in ensuring that designs are technically compliant, buildable and delivered to programme.
Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing the design process throughout pre-construction and construction.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary design consultants and managing interfaces between civil, structural, marine and M&E disciplines.
• Reviewing technical designs, drawings and specifications to ensure quality, compliance and buildability.
• Monitoring design programmes and ensuring information is issued to support procurement and construction activities.
• Leading design coordination meetings and managing communication between consultants, clients and site teams.
• Identifying value engineering opportunities and developing practical, cost-effective design solutions.
• Managing design changes, technical queries and associated risks.
• Reviewing subcontractor design submissions and maintaining appropriate design documentation and registers.
• Working with project stakeholders to secure design approvals and resolve technical challenges.
• Supporting the wider project team with design strategy, construction methodology and technical input where required.

About You
We are looking for an established Design Manager with a strong background in major civil engineering projects, ideally gained working for a principal contractor.
You will need to be comfortable managing complex design packages, coordinating multiple consultants and working closely with operational construction teams.
Essential requirements:

• Proven experience working as a Design Manager on large-scale civil engineering projects.
• Must live within a commutable distance of Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, or be prepared to relocate to the area.
• Must be eligible to obtain the necessary UK Security Clearance to work within a secure defence environment.
• A strong understanding of construction methodologies, design coordination and the delivery of technically complex infrastructure schemes.
• Experience managing external design consultants and multidisciplinary design packages.
• Good commercial awareness, with the ability to identify design risks and value engineering opportunities.
• Strong communication, organisation and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable experience:

• Previous involvement in marine civil engineering, heavy reinforced concrete, structural or major infrastructure projects.
• Experience working within defence, nuclear or other highly regulated environments.
• Chartered Engineer status (MICE or equivalent).
• Experience of design management from either a main contracting or engineering consultancy background.
• Previous involvement in tender design, pre-construction or design and build contracts.

Previous defence or dockyard experience would be beneficial but is not essential. The priority is finding someone with a solid civil engineering design management background who can operate effectively on large, technically challenging projects.
What's On Offer?

• £75,000 – £80,000 basic salary , depending on experience.
• Annual bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Permanent position with an established UK civil engineering contractor.
• Involvement in a long-term programme of major defence infrastructure investment.
• Exposure to technically challenging marine, structural and heavy civil engineering works.
• Opportunity to develop your career within a business delivering complex infrastructure projects across the UK.

Interested? If you're an experienced Design Manager with a background in major civil engineering and are based within reach of Plymouth, or considering relocating to the South West, we'd be keen to hear from you.
Apply now or get in touch for a confidential discussion about the position and the wider programme of works.

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