Design Manager

81211 Design Manager

This Design Manager will report to the Head of Engineering and will work within Capital Programme based in our London office. You will be a permanent employee.

You will attract a salary of dependant on experience and a bonus of 10%, car allowance and flexible benefit fund. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote

Close Date: 04/08/2025

We also provide the following additional benefits

• 25 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays.
• Reservist Leave – Additional 18 days full pay and 22 unpaid
• Personal Pension Plan – Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
• Tenancy Loan Deposit Scheme, Season Ticket Loan
• Tax efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, and Green Car Leasing Schemes
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers' products
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme

As the Design Manager you will lead and manage the design development within each DNO for capital programme. Principal funding streams will be asset investment plans, major connections customer funding and load related reinforcement.

You will work and lead multi-disciplinary teams providing industry leading solutions which deliver cost efficient solutions utilising internal and external design resources.

You will provide management, leadership and direction to the Design Leads, and their teams including Senior Design Engineers, Design Engineers, Technicians and Contractors.

In the role you will provide technical leadership to portfolio teams and support the delivery of programme and projects ensuring teams produce high quality solutions that comply with relevant legislation, standards and operational requirements.

The role holder will be expected to work and act with autonomy and be able to communicate strategically with Senior Management. You will manage and work within agreed financial budgets and timescales.

The position holder will ensure high standards of safety management with the team in all areas of their position's responsibility observing the UK Power Networks policy and procedures.

Dimensions

Payroll costs: £5m

Annual Works Costs: £100m

Direct Reports: 3 – 5,

Internal Team: 30 to 40

Principal Accountabilities

Typical accountabilities for the Design Manager will include:

• Develop, implement, and oversee the delivery of designs across a range of projects and portfolios from initial feasibility, through development, construction and commissioning.
• Manage and lead their design teams including performance management, employee engagement, team briefings, and career development;
• Decide how to deliver on strategic goals set by the Senior Management Team;
• Managing team budgets reporting to the Head of Engineering and Senior Management on performance, and the delivery of KPIs;
• Being accountable for ensuring design solutions are complete, meet technical requirements are constructible and operable within our operational safety rules;
• Provide managerial and technical leadership in developing solutions and leading on the technical interface with external design organisations;
• Assess cost/benefit trade-off of design solutions and supporting the technical decision making processes;
• Identify areas for technological advancement whilst maintaining excellent engineering standards;
• Seek design optimisation through the development and of repeatable design solutions, adoptions of digital solutions and new technology;
• Identify and deploy the technical skills, resource levels and systems to deliver projects including the engagement of external resources as required;
• Develop new documents, procedures and programmes for design as required.
• Ensure compliance with CDM and UK Power Networks Health and Safety policies;

Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• Degree level or equivalent in engineering or science, or equivalent qualifications and experience;
• Significant experience as a designer, leading design development;
• Significant experience in a design management position;
• Experience and knowledge of power system studies, protection systems, cable, civil and overhead line design;
• Excellent report writing skills;
• Organisational and people management skills with a record of managing a team;
• Experience managing significant project portfolios;
• Knowledge of Construction Design and Management Regulations;
• Application of statutory Instruments (ESQC regulations, Health and Safety at Work Act – appropriate to the role; Knowledge of relevant Safety Rules);
• Hold a full driving license.

Desirable

• Chartered Membership of a professional body such as the IET
• A qualification or relevant experience in project management
• Experience in electrical infrastructure design, construction, operations and maintenance
• Understanding of commercial and regulatory considerations for distribution networks
• Safety management qualification such as IOSH / NEBOSH certificate or equivalent;

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

If in doubt ask!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

If you have any queries in connection to this vacancy or your application, please contact us at careers@ukpowernetworks.co.uk quoting the vacancy reference number and a member of the team will get in touch with you as soon as possible.