Design Manager - Water Infrastructure

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager - Water Infrastructure

Company: SMEC

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Operations - Infrastructure Design Management

Date Posted: 2026-05-07T00:00:00

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the technical design and delivery of significant water and wastewater infrastructure projects, ensuring operational excellence and client satisfaction.

• Manage and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering design teams, fostering a collaborative environment for optimal project outcomes.

• Act as a key client-facing representative, building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, delivery partners, and regulatory bodies.

• Apply robust commercial acumen to manage project scope, budgets, risks, and client expectations effectively, driving project success.

• Provide technical oversight and guidance on engineering design packages, ensuring adherence to quality standards and best practices in water infrastructure.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is classified under Operations, specifically within the Infrastructure Design Management domain, focusing on the strategic and technical leadership required to deliver complex water and wastewater projects efficiently and effectively. The "10+ Years" experience level, combined with the emphasis on client-facing responsibilities and team leadership, suggests a senior-level position requiring significant operational and technical expertise. The hybrid work arrangement implies a need for strong remote collaboration and on-site leadership skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative technical oversight for all engineering design packages within water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

• Spearhead the technical execution of major infrastructure projects or program initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and operational requirements.

• Cultivate and maintain robust, effective relationships with clients and delivery partners, fostering trust and collaboration.

• Coordinate and provide strategic guidance to diverse, multidisciplinary design teams to achieve project milestones and deliverables.

• Represent SMEC as a proactive and trusted advisor, committed to driving positive impact through innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions.

• Manage project scope, budgets, timelines, and resources efficiently to ensure profitable and successful project delivery.

• Oversee the integration of design and construction processes, and effectively manage alliance delivery models.

• Proactively manage interfaces with clients, contractors, regulatory bodies, and other key stakeholders to mitigate risks and ensure smooth project progression.

• Develop and present strategic recommendations and project updates to senior management and clients, demonstrating commercial acumen and leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are enhanced to highlight the strategic and leadership aspects crucial for a Design Manager. Emphasis is placed on technical oversight, project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and commercial management, aligning with typical senior operations roles in infrastructure. The integration of concepts like "operational excellence" and "strategic objectives" reinforces the operations focus.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. A Master's degree in a relevant field or a post-graduate qualification in project management is highly advantageous.

Experience: A minimum of 15+ years of progressive experience in engineering design consultancy, with a substantial portion dedicated to the water and wastewater infrastructure sector. Proven experience in design management, technical leadership, and client relationship management is essential.

Required Skills:

• Minimum 15+ years of specialized experience in delivering designs and design management for wastewater treatment plants and/or wastewater networks.

• Demonstrated experience with design and construction processes, and familiarity with alliance delivery models.

• Proven commercial acumen, including proficiency in managing program scope, budgets, risks, and client expectations.

• Extensive experience coordinating and leading complex multidisciplinary engineering design teams.

• Strong track record in managing interfaces with clients, contractors, regulators, and key stakeholders.

• Highly developed communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with a proven ability to build trust and lead confidently in client-facing environments.

• Strong technical leadership and decision-making capabilities within the water infrastructure domain.

Preferred Skills:

• Professional Engineering (PE) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) designation.

• Experience with project management software and tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera).

• Knowledge of asset management principles for water infrastructure.

• Experience in tendering and contract negotiation.

• Familiarity with advanced modeling and simulation software relevant to water systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The education and experience requirements are elaborated to reflect industry standards for a senior Design Manager role. Specific technical areas like wastewater treatment and networks are emphasized. Preferred skills are added to provide a more comprehensive view of an ideal candidate profile, including professional certifications and advanced technical knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable evidence of successful project lifecycle management for water and wastewater infrastructure projects, from conceptualization through to construction support.

• Case studies showcasing leadership in multidisciplinary design coordination, highlighting problem-solving approaches and resolution strategies.

• Examples of detailed design packages, technical reports, and specifications produced under your management, emphasizing quality and compliance.

• Documentation illustrating experience in managing project budgets, scopes, and risk mitigation plans, with a focus on operational efficiency and financial control.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow designs and optimization strategies for the engineering design process, including methodologies for quality assurance and control.

• Implementation and automation methods for design review cycles, stakeholder feedback incorporation, and design package finalization.

• Measurement and performance analysis frameworks for design delivery, including metrics for efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction.

• Documentation of stakeholder engagement and communication protocols utilized throughout the design and delivery phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is tailored to operations roles by focusing on the tangible outputs and process-driven evidence expected in a portfolio. It emphasizes the management of design processes, quality control, stakeholder engagement, and the practical application of commercial and risk management principles within the infrastructure design context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: AUD $160,000 - $220,000 per annum (estimated based on experience level, location, and industry benchmarks for Design Managers in Water Infrastructure in Sydney).

Benefits:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.

• Dynamic career pathways and opportunities for growth within SMEC's global network.

• Comprehensive professional development programs tailored for leaders and technical experts.

• Mentoring from experienced industry leaders to foster skill enhancement.

• Tertiary education assistance to support continuous learning and advanced qualifications.

• Option to purchase additional annual leave for greater flexibility.

• Generous paid parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers.

• Robust wellbeing initiatives promoting employee health and safety.

• Active social club with regular events to foster team cohesion and networking.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility offered based on project demands and the hybrid work arrangement. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to meet critical project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a Design Manager with 15+ years of experience in Sydney, Australia. The salary estimation methodology considers role seniority, location-specific cost of living and market rates for engineering consultancy, and the specialized nature of water infrastructure design management. Benefits are detailed to highlight value propositions for senior operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Engineering Consultancy, Infrastructure Development, Water & Wastewater Management. SMEC operates within a highly regulated and critical sector, where innovation, safety, and sustainability are paramount. The company's success hinges on delivering complex technical solutions to government and private clients, requiring a culture that values technical excellence, client focus, and collaborative problem-solving.

Company Size: SMEC is a global multidisciplinary consultancy, part of the Surbana Jurong Group, indicating a large organizational footprint with extensive resources and diverse project opportunities. This size offers stability and broad career prospects but also implies a need for efficient internal processes and clear communication channels to navigate its structure.

Founded: While the exact founding date of SMEC is not provided, its long-standing presence in the infrastructure market suggests a deep history and established reputation. Being part of the Surbana Jurong Group (founded 1961) further underscores its significant heritage and global reach.

Team Structure:

• The operations team likely consists of specialized design managers, senior engineers, project managers, and technical specialists focused on water and wastewater infrastructure. The team is structured to support major projects, implying a matrix or project-based reporting system.

• Reporting structures will likely involve a direct report to a Senior Manager or Director within the Infrastructure division, with matrixed reporting to project directors for specific project assignments.

Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are crucial for informing design decisions, performance assessments, and risk evaluations in water infrastructure projects. This involves leveraging technical data, project performance metrics, and client feedback.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are applied to the entire design lifecycle, from initial concept to detailed design and construction support, focusing on efficiency, quality, and compliance.

• Automation and efficiency practices are encouraged, particularly in design review, documentation management, and communication processes, to streamline workflows and reduce potential errors.

Company Website: https://www.smec.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Context is provided regarding SMEC's industry position, size, and historical significance. The team structure and operational methodologies are inferred to reflect the demands of a large, global consultancy focused on complex infrastructure projects, emphasizing collaboration, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Design Manager role represents a senior-level position within the operations function, specifically focused on engineering design leadership for infrastructure projects. It requires a blend of deep technical expertise in water systems, robust project management capabilities, and strong commercial acumen. The role is pivotal in translating client requirements into executable engineering designs, managing significant project scopes, and leading multidisciplinary teams, positioning the incumbent as a key contributor to the company's operational success and client relationships.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager will likely report to a senior leadership role within SMEC's Infrastructure division, such as a Director of Engineering or Head of Water Infrastructure. They will also have a strong reporting relationship to Project Directors for specific projects they are managing, ensuring alignment with overall project goals and client commitments. This dual reporting structure is common in large consultancies to balance functional expertise with project-specific delivery.

Operations Impact: The Design Manager's impact is substantial, directly influencing the successful delivery of critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Their ability to manage design quality, control costs, mitigate risks, and ensure client satisfaction directly affects SMEC's reputation, profitability, and ability to secure future work. Effective design management is foundational to the operational efficiency and sustainability of public and private utilities, making this role vital to community well-being and economic development.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Leadership Expansion: Progression to roles such as Technical Director, Head of Water Infrastructure, or Program Manager, overseeing larger portfolios of projects and strategic initiatives.

• Business Development & Client Management: Opportunities to transition into roles focused on client relationship management, business development, and winning new projects, leveraging established expertise and networks.

• Specialized Technical Mastery: Deepening expertise in niche areas of water engineering, becoming a recognized subject matter expert (SME) and thought leader within the industry, potentially leading R&D or innovation efforts.

• Global Mobility: Leveraging SMEC's international presence for opportunities to work on diverse projects in different regions, broadening experience and cultural understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis focuses on the career trajectory and strategic importance of the Design Manager role within an operations context. It outlines potential growth paths, emphasizing the move from technical leadership to broader strategic, business development, or global management roles, consistent with senior operations professionals in large consultancies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Sydney, Australia, and operates under a hybrid model. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, client meetings, and focused work, alongside the flexibility to work remotely. The office is likely equipped with advanced design and communication technologies to support seamless integration between on-site and remote team members.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is in Sydney, New South Wales. Specific details regarding the exact office address or accessibility would typically be provided during the interview process. SMEC's presence in Sydney suggests proximity to key clients and project sites within the region.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, breakout areas, and potentially open-plan seating arrangements that encourage interaction among design teams and other departments.

• Access to essential operations tools and technology is a given, including high-performance workstations, specialized design software, project management platforms, and robust communication systems for hybrid collaboration.

• Opportunities for interaction with the broader operations team, including other design managers, project engineers, and support staff, are integral to the hybrid model, facilitating knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule aligns with full-time employment, approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, allowing individuals to balance office-based tasks (e.g., team collaboration, client meetings) with remote work (e.g., focused design tasks, individual analysis). This flexibility is crucial for operations roles that often require dedicated focus time alongside collaborative engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment is fleshed out to reflect the hybrid model and the context of a large engineering consultancy. It emphasizes the blend of collaborative office spaces and remote work flexibility, along with the technological infrastructure supporting such an environment, which is critical for operations professionals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application by the Resourcing function, focused on verifying minimum experience requirements and key technical skills.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with Helen Kruimel to assess your technical expertise, leadership style, commercial acumen, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. Be prepared to discuss specific wastewater infrastructure projects you've managed.

• Technical/Team Interview: This stage may involve meeting with other senior engineers or project managers to delve deeper into your technical capabilities, design management approach, and experience with multidisciplinary teams. A case study or problem-solving exercise related to water infrastructure design challenges may be presented.

• Final Interview/Presentation: Potentially a final interview with senior leadership or a presentation of a selected portfolio piece, demonstrating your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate complex technical and commercial concepts.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 2-3 significant water/wastewater infrastructure projects that best showcase your design management leadership, technical contributions, and commercial success.

• Structure Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the challenge, your role and responsibilities, the multidisciplinary team you managed, key design decisions, technical innovations, commercial outcomes (budget, schedule), and lessons learned.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to demonstrate your impact – e.g., cost savings achieved, schedule improvements, risk reduction achieved, client satisfaction scores, or efficiency gains from implemented designs.

• Highlight Process: Illustrate your process for managing design teams, coordinating disciplines, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring quality control. Show examples of design documentation, reports, or presentations you've overseen.

• Tailor to SMEC: Research SMEC's current projects and values. Frame your portfolio examples to align with their strategic focus (e.g., sustainability, innovation, client impact in water infrastructure).

Challenge Preparation:

• Technical Scenarios: Anticipate questions about common challenges in wastewater treatment plant design (e.g., capacity upgrades, regulatory compliance) or network design (e.g., network rehabilitation, leak detection, hydraulic modeling). Be ready to propose solutions.

• Management Scenarios: Prepare for questions on managing difficult stakeholders, resolving inter-team conflicts, controlling project budgets, and mitigating design risks.

• Commercial Acumen: Practice articulating your understanding of project profitability, contract types (e.g., alliance models), and client negotiation strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, detailing the likely interview stages and offering specific strategies for portfolio preparation and challenge response, tailored to the Design Manager role in water infrastructure.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CAD Software: Proficiency with AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or similar platforms for infrastructure design and drafting. Experience with BIM (Building Information Modeling) software is highly advantageous.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or Asana for project scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking.

• Collaboration Platforms: Expertise in using Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar for seamless hybrid communication, document sharing, and team coordination.

• Document Management Systems: Experience with platforms like SharePoint, ProjectWise, or similar for managing large volumes of design documentation, revisions, and approvals.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Ability to interpret data from hydraulic models, performance monitoring systems, and project reports. Familiarity with Excel for data manipulation and analysis.

• Reporting Tools: Proficiency in generating comprehensive project reports, design summaries, and performance dashboards for clients and internal stakeholders.

• Dashboard Software: Experience with tools like Power BI or Tableau for creating interactive visualizations of project progress, performance metrics, and financial data.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct sales role, understanding CRM principles for client relationship management is beneficial. Familiarity with platforms used by SMEC for client tracking may be an advantage.

• Workflow Automation: Awareness of how automation can streamline design review, approval processes, and reporting within engineering workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is detailed to reflect the tools commonly used in large engineering consultancies for design management, project execution, and client collaboration, emphasizing both technical design software and operational management tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and exceeding client expectations, fostering long-term partnerships through reliable delivery and proactive communication.

• Technical Excellence: Upholding the highest standards of engineering design and problem-solving, driven by a passion for innovation and continuous improvement in water infrastructure solutions.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong belief in the power of collective effort, encouraging open communication, mutual support, and shared responsibility among team members across disciplines.

• Integrity & Accountability: Conducting all business with honesty and transparency, taking ownership of responsibilities, and delivering on commitments with professionalism.

• Sustainability & Impact: Dedication to designing solutions that are environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and contribute positively to the communities SMEC serves.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively fostering an environment where different engineering disciplines, project management, and commercial teams work cohesively towards common project goals, with clear communication channels and shared understanding.

• Process Review & Feedback: Encouraging a culture of continuous improvement through regular process reviews, constructive feedback exchange, and learning from both successes and challenges.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the active sharing of technical expertise, project insights, and best practices across teams and projects, leveraging SMEC's diverse talent pool to drive collective growth and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are inferred to align with the established reputation of a global engineering consultancy like SMEC, emphasizing client-centricity, technical rigor, collaborative teamwork, and a commitment to sustainability and ethical conduct, all crucial for successful operations in this sector.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Project Complexity: Navigating the inherent complexity of large-scale water infrastructure projects, involving intricate technical requirements, diverse stakeholder interests, and potential unforeseen site conditions.

• Balancing Stakeholder Demands: Effectively managing the expectations and competing priorities of various stakeholders, including clients, regulators, contractors, and internal teams, to ensure project alignment and satisfaction.

• Adopting New Technologies: Staying abreast of and integrating emerging technologies and methodologies in water infrastructure design and management, ensuring SMEC remains at the forefront of the industry.

• Driving Innovation: Fostering a culture of innovation within design teams to develop more sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions that address evolving environmental and societal needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to enhance skills in advanced project management techniques, risk assessment, contract negotiation, and financial management specific to large infrastructure projects.

• Industry Conference & Certification Participation: Support for attending key industry conferences, workshops, and pursuing professional certifications (e.g., PMP, CPEng) to maintain and expand expertise.

• Operations Mentorship & Leadership Development: Access to formal mentorship programs and leadership development training designed to cultivate future leaders within SMEC's operations and technical divisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified that are typical for senior operations roles in complex infrastructure projects, focusing on complexity, stakeholder management, technological adoption, and innovation. Growth opportunities are framed around operations skill enhancement, professional development, and leadership progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a multidisciplinary team to overcome a significant technical challenge on a water infrastructure project. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your leadership, problem-solving, and process management.)

• "How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration between design teams, construction partners, and clients on major projects, especially in a hybrid work environment?" (Prepare to discuss your communication strategies, stakeholder management techniques, and use of collaboration tools.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about SMEC and our work in water infrastructure? How do your values and career aspirations align with our company's mission and culture?" (Research SMEC's recent projects, values statement, and commitment to positive impact.)

• "Describe your experience working in a large, global consultancy like SMEC. How do you approach collaboration and knowledge sharing within such an organization?" (Discuss your adaptability, teamwork skills, and understanding of matrixed organizational structures.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: For each project in your portfolio, craft a compelling narrative that highlights your strategic contribution, leadership, and quantifiable results. Keep it concise and impactful.

• Visual Aids: Utilize clear, professional visuals such as project diagrams, key design elements, or performance charts to support your verbal presentation. Avoid overly technical jargon where possible, or explain it clearly.

• Focus on Process & Outcomes: Emphasize not just what you designed or managed, but how you managed it, the processes you employed, and the tangible operational and commercial outcomes achieved.

• Address Challenges & Solutions: Be prepared to discuss challenges encountered during projects and how you, as a leader, devised and implemented solutions, demonstrating resilience and strategic thinking.

• Engage and Ask Questions: Treat the portfolio review as a two-way conversation. Be ready to answer questions thoroughly and ask insightful questions about SMEC's current projects and operational priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides concrete examples of potential interview questions, categorized by strategic, company-specific, and portfolio-related themes, along with guidance on how to prepare and present effectively, tailored for a senior operations role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the “Apply Now” link on the Workday job portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Highlight your 15+ years of experience specifically in water and wastewater infrastructure design management. Quantify achievements related to project delivery, team leadership, client satisfaction, and commercial success using operations-relevant keywords such as "technical oversight," "multidisciplinary coordination," "stakeholder management," and "commercial acumen."

• Prepare a Concise Portfolio Overview: Identify 2-3 key projects to discuss that showcase your leadership in design management, technical expertise, and ability to manage scope, budget, and risk. Be ready to articulate the challenges, your approach, and the quantifiable outcomes.

• Research SMEC's Water Infrastructure Projects: Familiarize yourself with SMEC's recent work, particularly in Sydney and the broader Australian region. Understand their approach to sustainability, innovation, and client engagement in the water sector.

• Practice Your Responses: Rehearse answers to common interview questions, focusing on demonstrating your strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and alignment with SMEC's values and culture. Be prepared to discuss your experience with alliance delivery models and managing client relationships.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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