Design Manager

Design Manager – Enabling and Earthworks

Location: Suffolk

Join the exciting journey of one of the UK's largest nuclear projects at Sizewell C!

The Civil Works Alliance (CWA) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Design Manager to support the successful delivery of the Sizewell C Project.

CWA, appointed by the Sizewell C client, brings together three leading delivery contractors — Laing O'Rourke, Bouygues, and Balfour Beatty — to deliver the civils scope including Enabling Earthworks, Main Civil Works, and Marine and Tunnelling.

We are seeking a Design Manager to support the delivery of the Enabling Works and Earthworks scope. This early stage of the project includes major packages such as the SSSI Crossing, ground improvements, dewatering, diaphragm walls, sea defence, Marine Bulk Import Facility (MBIF), Beach Landing Facility (BLF), construction drainage outfall and bulk earthworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the design management procedure, ensuring compliance and effective application by all project stakeholders
• Manage the design process from pre-construction through gated lifecycle reviews to acceptance for construction
• Chair design readiness and final gate reviews, identifying risks, opportunities and outstanding issues to be resolved
• Oversee Inter-Disciplinary Checks (IDC), Independent Design Reviews (IDR) and interface control processes
• Ensure appropriate stakeholder involvement and construction input during design reviews
• Maintain design submissions, approvals and document registers in line with SZC governance requirements
• Coordinate design interfaces between temporary and permanent works and across multiple packages
• Monitor design deliverables against programme milestones, ensuring timely outputs and risk mitigation
• Support procurement of design services, preparation of design briefs, and management of subcontractor design packages
• Champion method-led construction principles and embed constructability into design outputs
• Support implementation of digital tools, BIM processes and model management to enhance delivery
• Capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement across design management practices

What skills & experience are we looking for?

Essential:

• Proven experience in design management or design coordination on major civil, structural or tunnelling projects
• Strong knowledge of design governance, review processes, BIM, and digital engineering tools
• Ability to manage multiple interfaces and lead IDR/IDC workshops and design meetings
• Sound knowledge of health & safety legislation, including CDM 2015 Regulations
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder engagement skills
• Degree in Engineering or related discipline, with a minimum of 5 years' relevant experience
• Valid CSCS card

Desirable:

• Professional qualification or working towards chartership
• Geotechnical/foundation works experience
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and 3D/4D modelling software

Why SZC?

This is your chance to contribute to one of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure projects, shaping the future of energy while working in a supportive, dynamic environment. Be part of a team that values innovation, safety, and sustainability at every stage of the journey—from investment to construction and beyond.

About Laing O'Rourke

We 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 health 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 prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

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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