Project Design Lead at Southern Water

Chatham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

17 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

18 Apr, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Project Design, Technical Leadership, Infrastructure Engineering, Water Industry, Wastewater Infrastructure, Engineering Design, Project Management, Stakeholder Communication, Design Administration, Health & Safety, Compliance, Budgeting, Optioneering, Construction Management, Commissioning

Industry

Utilities

Description

Closing Date 01/05/2026 Job Title: Project Design Lead Location: Falmer (hybrid working + site visits, driving licence is required) Contract Type: Perm, Full time Salary: Salary and package are to be discussed at the screening stage. About the role Southern Water is seeking an experienced Project Design Lead to provide technical leadership across the design and delivery of complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects. This is a senior role within Engineering Technical Services, with accountability for shaping, approving and assuring designs from early optioneering through to construction and commissioning. You will provide authoritative technical input, make decisions that materially influence project outcomes, and ensure solutions are safe, compliant, sustainable and deliver best whole‑life value. In many cases, you will have final design authority for schemes prior to construction What you will be responsible for: Team Support: Assist in coordinating engineering and project teams, helping to keep tasks on track and organised. Stakeholder Communication: Help maintain clear communication across departments including Operations, Environmental Enabling, and Engineering & Construction. Design Administration: Support the review and tracking of design documentation, timelines, and compliance requirements. Health & Safety Awareness: Promote safe working practices and help ensure design activities align with H&S standards. Project Coordination: Assist project managers with planning and tracking design-related activities and budgets. What you’ll bring to the role: You might have a degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related field Project Management qualification or experience within project management Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed. You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation Purpose-Driven "Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water—and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If you’re inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute, apply today. You don’t need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference." If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com- Introduce Yourself) Our Commitment to Diversity We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. #LI-Hybrid #LI-SC1 Our purpose is big. Our impact is huge. And we know that every single one of us has the power, through our actions, to positively change society and the environment for good. It’s why careers with us have real meaning. Because, if you’re driven and ambitious, we can offer you huge opportunities for personal growth, professional development and constant innovation. Forever evolving. Forever focused on doing the right thing, we empower and encourage everyone to play to their strengths and to help us shape a fair and positive future for all. We believe in Water for Life. If you do too, Dive Right In. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position. Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

Responsibilities

The Project Design Lead provides technical leadership for water and wastewater infrastructure projects, overseeing designs from optioneering through to construction. They are responsible for coordinating engineering teams, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining clear communication across departments.