Associate Design Manager

Job Description

Overview

The AtkinsRéalis Growth Markets Project Delivery Practice is a centre of excellence for infrastructure project delivery, bringing together project management, design management and technical leadership. We are seeking an experienced Engineering / Design Manager to join our Epsom and South East practice, based in Epsom. This is an associate-level technical delivery and business leadership role for an established professional who can lead multidisciplinary design delivery on significant projects or defined work packages, make sound decisions within delegated authority and influence outcomes across the wider practice.

You will form an integral part of the project leadership team and act as the key interface within the Design Delivery Team. Accountable for the coordinated technical delivery of an agreed project scope from inception through to completion, you will support the Project Manager by leading the design team, integrating multidisciplinary inputs, managing technical interfaces and ensuring that design outputs meet agreed safety, quality, programme, cost and commercial requirements. You will also build client and wider-business relationships, develop opportunities, lead improvement and innovation, and strengthen our design management capability through coaching and practice contribution.

Your role

• Prepare, implement and maintain the Design Management Plan for the assigned project or work package, ensuring appropriate input, agreement and endorsement from the Project Manager and discipline leads.
• Lead the design and multidisciplinary teams through development of the work, coordinating activities, interfaces, deliverables and decisions so that the design is complete, consistent and aligned with project requirements, the agreed brief and the relevant design stage.
• Provide technical leadership to the Design Delivery Team, working through discipline leads and drawing on specialists across the wider business to resolve complex issues, facilitate effective coordination and drive efficiency and rigour in technical delivery.
• Take accountable decisions within the agreed Delegation of Authority and act as the focal point for design management matters at project, team or defined business-area level, escalating only where required.
• Establish and apply proportionate governance, technical assurance and quality-control arrangements, including design and risk reviews, controlled records, discipline sign-off, and review and approval of technical outputs within delegated authority.
• Agree the design programme, milestones, deliverables and resource requirements with the Project Manager and discipline leads. Monitor progress and take or direct timely corrective action where delivery varies from plan.
• Work with the Project Manager to manage expenditure against budget, technical and commercial risk, change control, scope definition and contractual compliance; ensure commercial arrangements, instructions and programme implications are coordinated, documented and agreed before work proceeds.
• Lead design engagement with clients and stakeholders, chairing appropriate meetings, securing decisions, building trusted relationships and ensuring actions are clearly owned and closed.
• Develop and maintain relationships across AtkinsRéalis and with external partners, connecting project teams with appropriate expertise, capabilities and delivery resources.
• Promote effective collaboration across disciplines, offices and delivery partners, ensuring that suitable digital tools, BIM processes and common data environments are selected and used effectively in delivery.
• Ensure design requirements, decisions, assumptions and configuration are captured and controlled throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify and develop opportunities with existing and new clients and lead or make a substantial contribution to bids and proposals, confirming a credible delivery strategy, scope, commercial coverage, programme, resources, risks and evidence of value before delivery begins.
• Coach and mentor colleagues, act as a role model and share good practice to support capability development, succession planning and consistency across the practice.
• Lead project innovation and continuous improvement, capture evidence of benefits and coordinate the adoption of effective approaches across the region and wider business.
• Promote sustainable design, Net Zero principles and standardisation across the assigned scope.
• Travel to client offices and project sites across the UK may be required, depending on assignment needs.
• Full-time, part-time and flexible working arrangements may be considered, subject to role and project requirements.

About you

Essential

• Relevant professional qualification, such as Chartered Engineer, Architect, Chartered Environmentalist or Project Professional status, or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Substantial experience in design management, engineering management, project technical leadership or a comparable role on multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to lead significant projects or defined work packages across a range of RIBA or equivalent project stages, exercising sound judgement and authority in complex multidisciplinary environments.
• A deep understanding of client requirements and the ability to translate them into clear, coordinated and achievable design outcomes that comply with the agreed design brief.
• Strong knowledge of multidisciplinary systems integration and technical interfaces, including the principles, management processes and analytical approaches needed to resolve complex issues.
• Experience authoring and maintaining a robust Design Management Plan and establishing proportionate technical assurance, design risk, CDM, safety, quality-control and discipline sign-off arrangements.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary BIM coordination, coordinating discipline input to the BIM Execution Plan and implementing an agreed collaboration platform or common data environment.
• Experience planning and controlling design delivery, including programmes, deliverables, resources, budgets, risks, change, scope and contractual arrangements.
• Ability to build, lead and motivate an appropriately skilled multidisciplinary team, define clear responsibilities through a RACI or equivalent, and coordinate discipline, distributed and global delivery resources.
• Strong commercial awareness and evidence of identifying opportunities, contributing to or leading bids, and developing productive relationships with existing and new clients.
• Strong client and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to explain complex or sensitive technical matters, influence decisions and build consensus.
• Ability to build relationships across the wider business and external networks and mobilise specialist capability to meet project and client needs.
• Experience coaching and mentoring colleagues, recognising and developing talent, acting as a role model and contributing to practice capability and succession planning.
• Evidence of leading project innovation, applying and reinforcing standard designs or products, and coordinating standardisation or continuous improvement across a region or wider business, with measurable benefits.
• A collaborative, organised and adaptable approach, with clear written and verbal communication, sound judgement, attention to detail, the ability to manage competing priorities, and willingness to travel to UK offices, client locations and project sites when required.

Desirable

• Knowledge of NEC3 or NEC4 contracts and their application to design-related change, early warnings and programme impacts.
• Experience delivering infrastructure projects in regulated, safety-critical or secure environments.
• Experience supporting design through construction, commissioning, operational readiness and handover.
• Experience undertaking independent reviews of design management or technical delivery on other projects.
• Experience supporting recruitment, winning work, or liaison between market and practice teams.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.