Design Manager (Operations) - Major Nuclear Infrastructure Project

Location: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Salary: Competitive + Car Allowance + Excellent Benefits
Security Clearance: Must be eligible for and maintain relevant UK Security Clearance (SC minimum, with ability to obtain higher levels where required)
Site Presence: Minimum 4 days per week on site required due to project complexity, stakeholder engagement and security requirements. Flexible working available where project commitments allow.

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About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Design Manager (Operations) to join a major programme delivering critical infrastructure within a highly regulated and security-conscious environment in Barrow-in-Furness.

Working as part of the Design & Technical team, you will take ownership of the design management process across complex multidisciplinary projects, ensuring that all design deliverables are coordinated, managed, reviewed and issued in line with project requirements. You will act as the focal point for design workflow management, interfacing with Technical Managers, Project Engineers, BIM teams, consultants and specialist subcontractors to ensure information is delivered accurately and on time to support procurement, construction, commissioning and handover activities.

This is a key leadership position on a nationally significant programme where effective coordination of engineering information, programme management and stakeholder engagement are critical to successful project delivery.

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Key Responsibilities

As Design Manager (Operations), you will:

• Develop and implement project-specific design management strategies and plans aligned to programme requirements.
• Take ownership of design delivery programmes, schedules and workflow processes across multiple design disciplines.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams, consultants, specialist subcontractors and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of information.
• Lead design coordination meetings and technical interface reviews, ensuring actions are tracked and closed out effectively.
• Manage discipline and system interfaces, ensuring integration challenges are identified and resolved early.
• Support compliance with CDM 2015 requirements, promoting safe design principles and effective risk management.
• Oversee design change control processes, ensuring all changes are properly reviewed, documented and approved.
• Ensure project information is managed in accordance with Common Data Environment (CDE) requirements, security protocols and project procedures.
• Collaborate with Technical Managers to coordinate technical reviews, assurance activities and approval gateways.
• Produce regular design status reports, highlighting progress, risks, constraints and recovery actions.
• Support project teams throughout design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover phases.

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Essential Experience

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

• Experience in Design Management, Project Engineering, Package Management or Engineering Coordination roles on major construction or infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to manage multiple design packages and complex multidisciplinary workstreams simultaneously.
• Experience coordinating internal engineering teams, consultants, specialist subcontractors and external stakeholders.
• Experience working within highly regulated sectors such as Nuclear, Defence, Infrastructure, Energy, Rail or similar complex project environments.
• Demonstrable experience managing design programmes, responsibility matrices, design reviews and approval processes.
• Experience operating design change management procedures and maintaining design governance controls.
• Experience supporting projects through design, pre-construction, delivery, commissioning and handover phases.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to drive collaboration and achieve programme milestones.

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Technical Knowledge

Successful candidates will possess:

• Strong understanding of design management processes and multidisciplinary engineering workflows.
• Comprehensive knowledge of MEP systems and their interaction with architectural, structural and civil disciplines.
• Experience managing design deliverables, review cycles, approval processes and information release schedules.
• Good understanding of Common Data Environments (CDE), BIM Execution Plans (BEPs), TIDPs and document control processes.
• Knowledge of design coordination, technical interfaces and engineering assurance requirements.
• Ability to monitor design performance through programmes, trackers, dashboards and reporting tools.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of design responsibility, programme impacts and change management.

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Qualifications

Essential

• HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent experience within Building Services Engineering, Construction, Design Management, Project Management or a related discipline.

Desirable

• Professional registration as Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
• Membership of a recognised professional institution such as the IET, CIBSE, CIOB or APM.

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What's on Offer?

• Opportunity to work on one of the UK's most significant defence and infrastructure programmes.
• Long-term project pipeline with outstanding career progression opportunities.
• Exposure to technically challenging, multidisciplinary engineering projects.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Professional development and support towards further qualifications and chartership.
• Collaborative, high-performing project environment focused on excellence and innovation.

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Security Requirements

Due to the nature of the project, applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK Security Clearance. Offers of employment will be subject to successful security screening, identity verification and background checks.

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Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in the successful delivery of a major infrastructure programme, ensuring complex engineering information is coordinated effectively from concept through to handover. If you have a strong background in design management, programme coordination and multidisciplinary engineering delivery within regulated environments, we would like to hear from you.