Design Director - Water
Jacobs
- Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Design Director - Water
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Jacobs
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact The UK water sector is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. The Independent Water Commission’s review, coupled with unprecedented investment, offers a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to reshape water and wastewater infrastructure.
We’re proud to be driving this change, partnering with leading UK water companies to deliver integrated solutions across the full project lifecycle—from planning and design to construction and operations.
Key aspects of our role
Lead Technical Delivery: Oversee design, construction, and commissioning with a focus on quality, constructability, and safety by design.
Enable Collaboration: Build strong relationships across design, construction, and client teams, encouraging knowledge sharing, innovation, and integrated delivery.
Champion Safety & Inclusion: Foster a culture where wellbeing, safety, and belonging are central.
Support Strategic Growth: Be an approachable, visible leader who develops high‑performing teams and strengthens client partnerships.
Grow Future Talent: Mentor colleagues across disciplines, encourage continuous improvement, and create a supportive, psychologically safe environment.
Key responsibilities
Serve as the technical authority, ensuring compliance with standards and UK CDM regulations.
Lead value engineering, buildability reviews, and design optimisation.
Manage stakeholder engagement and contribute to framework leadership.
Oversee design management, scheduling, risk, change control, and financial performance.
Drive innovation, including standardisation and design automation.
Mentor design managers and engineers.
Embed constructability and commissioning into design approaches.
Strengthen client relationships and support business development.
Work with Project Managers to deliver quality and performance plans.
Here’s what you’ll need
Chartered Engineer with proven project experience in the water and wastewater sector.
Leadership experience in design and project management for major infrastructure programmes.
Experience integrating multidisciplinary engineering and construction.
Working knowledge of NEC3/4 contracts.
A collaborative mindset, with enthusiasm for problem solving, innovation, and team development.
Confidence operating autonomously across complex projects.
Clear, inclusive communication skills suited to diverse stakeholders.
Areas of expertise
Design management (feasibility to detailed design and construction)
Technical leadership and mentoring
Collaborative planning and delivery
Risk and change management
Project management (including financial and commercial awareness)
Health, safety, and environmental leadership
Quality assurance and standards
Stakeholder engagement and client relationships
We offer
Competitive salary: we offer compensation that reflects your skills and experience.
Flexible Work Arrangements: benefit from hybrid & part‑time working options (starting from 24 hours/week). Full‑time roles available as well!
Robust Pension Contributions: we offer enhanced pension contributions up to 10% to secure your future.
Comprehensive Health Coverage: single medical cover and Digital GP service, with options to add your partner and family.
Family Planning Support: access to fertility healthcare and family planning services.
Enhanced Parental Leave: enjoy enhanced parental leave pay and free membership to employee assistance and parental programmes.
Life assurance at 4× your salary.
Wellbeing Hub: free access to wellbeing apps like Calm and Daily Burn.
Professional Development: we cover professional membership fees and provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities.
Community Engagement: participate in charity matched‑funding, paid volunteering time, and charitable donations.
Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.
With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximise your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering programme, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.
We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.
Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https://www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.
As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.
We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations, enabling them to deliver their best work.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.
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Sprachkenntnisse
- English
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