Head of Design Management

The Head of Design Management will provide strategic leadership and operational management for United Infrastructure’s UK engineering design management team within the power transmission and distribution sector. This role focuses on leading, developing, and empowering a team of dedicated Design Managers while overseeing the successful delivery of complex engineering design projects across the UK business.

Working closely with other heads of departments the Head of Design Management ensures project design teams are effectively resourced across UK offices, driving excellence in technical governance, client satisfaction, commercial performance, and team growth.

• Lead, line-manage, recruit, and mentor a team of Design Managers, taking full accountability for team performance, pastoral care, and career progression.
• Establish clear capability development pathways, converting technical engineering talent into commercially astute, client-facing Design Managers.
• Conduct performance appraisals, identify training needs, and foster an inclusive, high-performing team culture aligned with United Infrastructure’s strategic goals.
• Drive workload forecasting, capacity planning, and resource allocation across the Design Management team to maintain balanced utilization and project coverage.

• Provide overarching design management and technical governance for projects from concept to closeout, ensuring alignment with APM/PMP and industry best practices across FEED, environmental, permitting, planning, estimating, engineering, constructability reviews, and construction support.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for design delivery, supporting line reports on high-risk, complex, or strategic projects.
• Maintain full compliance with United Infrastructure and client design management processes, quality management systems, and procedural controls.
• Coordinate with engineering discipline department and section heads to secure appropriately competent engineering staff and enforce robust inter-disciplinary coordination.

• Champion a proactive "Safety by Design" culture across all project phases and design teams.
• Ensure strict compliance with UK Health & Safety, Environmental, and Waste Management legislation relevant to the electricity supply industry.
• Support the fulfilment of CDM 2015 Principal Designer obligations across the team's portfolio.
• Drive sustainability, whole-life asset optimization, and carbon reduction initiatives (e.g., PAS 2080 guidelines) across design outputs.

• Oversee technical, operational, and commercial risk management, ensuring design change control, risk registers, and hazard identification processes are rigorously maintained within your teams.
• Lead contract management and administration, with deep oversight of NEC3 / NEC4 contract families (including Early Warning Notifications and Compensation Events).
• Ensure financial and legal coordination, protecting business margins while fulfilling all statutory and contractual requirements.

• Establish and nurture strategic, trust-based relationships with key clients (e.g., National Grid, DNOs), subcontractors, regulatory bodies, and industry stakeholders.
• Nurture a world-class customer service culture across the design management function to drive recurring business and client success.
• Actively support business development, leading technical proposals, pitch presentations, and contract negotiations with senior management support.
• Represent United Infrastructure within relevant professional bodies and industry working groups, maintaining active CPD.

Essential

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in an engineering discipline relevant to the Electricity Transmission & Distribution sector from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years of engineering design and design management experience within the UK power transmission and distribution industry.
• Proven track record in direct line management, leadership, resource planning, and capability development of engineering or project management personnel.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with a relevant institution (IET, ICE, or equivalent) or APM Registered Project Professional (RPP) status.
• Extensive experience with transmission & distribution projects and deep familiarity with National Grid & SSE procedures & policies.
• Thorough working knowledge of current CDM Regulations 2015, with demonstrated experience fulfilling or overseeing the CDM Principal Designer role.
• Strong contract management expertise, particularly with the NEC family of contracts (NEC3/NEC4).
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in engineering or project management.
• Formal leadership / management qualifications (e.g., CMI or ILM Level 5/7).
• Active engagement with sustainable design standards (e.g., PAS 2080).
• Relevant Health & Safety qualification (e.g., NEBOSH National General/Construction Certificate, IOSH Managing Safely, or NVQ Level 3/5 in H&S).

• Competitive salary commensurate with level & experience
• Hybrid working arrangement (Dependent upon role)
• Structured career development pathway
• Professional membership and chartership support
• Company pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private Medical Cover

Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.