Design Manager - Civils & Geo - Power
We are seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the civils and geotechnical design scope supporting our precast manufacturing and project delivery functions. This role requires someone with strong technical leadership, the ability to drive design programmes, and—critically—a solid understanding of our factory operations.
About the Role
As the Civils & Geo Design Manager, you will oversee all aspects of design development and coordination, ensuring outputs are fully aligned with programme, quality, technical requirements, and manufacture‑led constraints. You'll work closely with engineering, production, and site teams to optimise design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA), driving efficient and safe solutions from early design through to installation.
The role is primarily based in Birmingham, with regular travel to the Worksop factory to collaborate with production colleagues, support sequencing discussions, and ensure design integrates seamlessly with manufacturing processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the civils & geotechnical design workstreams for precast projects.
- Drive the design programme—ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated information.
- Interface closely with factory teams at Worksop to align design with manufacturing capability.
- Support DfMA optimisation, buildability reviews, and production‑led detailing.
- Coordinate with structural, geo, temporary works, digital, production, and site teams.
- Manage design reviews, queries, risks, and change.
- Ensure compliance with statutory, safety, technical, and contractual requirements.
- Provide leadership and direction to internal designers and external consultants.
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- Strong background in civils and/or geotechnical design management.
- Proven ability to lead, challenge, and motivate multidisciplinary designers.
- Precast concrete experience, including manufacture and installation considerations.
- Solid understanding of DfMA and production‑influenced design.
- Ability to work across factory, design office, and site environments.
- Confident communicator with strong organisational and problem‑solving skills.
Desirable:
- Site installation knowledge, including lifting, logistics, and sequencing.
- Digital tools/CDE experience.
- Chartered or working toward chartership.
Location & Travel
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Base: Birmingham
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Travel: Frequent visits to the Worksop factory will be required to effectively interface with production teams and support design delivery.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from colleagues of all backgrounds and experiences. If you require adjustments or support through the selection process, please let us know.
About Us
Laing O'Rourke are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.
Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.
As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process.
We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com
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