Design Manager – Rail

Overview

As Design Manager, you will lead a multi-disciplinary design team to deliver safe, practical and economical GRIP-stage designs for the Anglia CP6 framework. You’ll act as the design department’s interface with project teams and external partners, ensuring compliance with NR standards and company procedures. The role focuses on managing design packages, cost and programme control, and developing designs through GRIP stages 1–8. You will shape engineering solutions to renew and maintain the Anglia route, contributing to a major rail framework with wide impact.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of design packages and interfaces with internal and external design teams
• Lead a team of Assistant Design Managers and Design Coordinators
• Represent design in meetings and act as focal point in the absence of Lead Designer
• Coordinate with other departments on design requirements
• Conduct site visits as appropriate
• Allocate design tasks while maintaining team performance
• Ensure adherence to company procedures and professional standards
• Identify and record chargeable work and time spent
• Collect and archive feedback on design work
• Conduct staff appraisals and plan development activities
• Oversee GRIP stages 1–4 design (concept through in-principle approval)
• Oversee GRIP stages 5–8 design (detailed design to project close)
• Collaborate with CREs and CEMs to ensure NR standard compliance
• Monitor and control cost and programme for design phases

Key requirements

• Experienced in managing designs within railway environments
• Strong understanding of Network Rail standards and processes
• Proven management skills and stakeholder engagement
• Proficient with Microsoft packages and MS Project
• Ability to liaise across departments and with external partners
• Experience with GRIP framework and multi-disciplinary interfaces

• leadership
• stakeholder management
• communication
• GRIP stage management
• design coordination
• interface management

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