Design Lead

Closing date: Tuesday 26th May 2026 

Mott MacDonald Bentley is a fully integrated design and build business combining the design expertise of Mott MacDonald with the contracting experience of JN Bentley to deliver award winning projects. Working for Mott MacDonald Bentley, you will work on major water and wastewater schemes throughout all phases of the project from feasibility through to construction.  With an annual turnover surpassing £500 million, Mott Macdonald Bentley cements its position as a leader within the industry. The sustained, robust business performance creates an ideal environment for career growth.  

We secured our first contract with Severn Trent at the beginning of AMP5 in 2009. Two AMPs later and Severn Trent has grown to become our largest client in terms of turnover. We’ve laid strong roots in the area, working from offices at Shifnal in the West Midlands, but delivering work across the Severn Trent patch. 420 colleagues are based in the region, in all roles from frontline construction to commercial management, operations to design.   Our current AMP7 frameworks have been rolled over into AMP8 (to 2030), securing our place in the region for many years to come. 

We have exciting opportunities within our Severn Trent Water framework for people ready to step up into a Design Lead role; a position that brings increased responsibility, creative influence, and the chance to shape how design is delivered across multiple projects.  

This is a great next step for someone eager to lead, mentor others, and champion design thinking across teams. If you're looking to grow your career, broaden your leadership experience, or simply take on something impactful, this could be the move for you.  

 The role of a Design Lead includes:   

• Leading the delivery of multi-disciplinary design for your projects / programme of work   

• Developing and leading your team to successfully deliver projects, creating a positive environment where staff are engaged and empowered to reach their potential  

• Delivering detailed designs to meet construction needs and client acceptance including managing cost and programme  

• Challenging the engineering solutions and delivery effectiveness of your team to ensure we always offer the client the best value solutions  

• Providing direction and oversight of project controls and ensuring your team understands and complies with quality, programme and cost requirements   

• Maintaining positive client relationships at project level   

• Leading the development of affordable low carbon solutions, including managing opportunities and risks  

This is an established framework for MMB and we are seeking best for task candidates, supported by agile working.  You will have the opportunity to be involved in further developing relationships with the client, growing your professional network, and contributing to the way we deliver.  This role will also provide you with the opportunity to further develop your technical and management skills, with excellent long-term potential to advance your career.  

Our office in Shifnal (West Midlands) will be your principal place of work, however we are committed to providing a flexible and agile working environment that supports both our employees and the needs of the business.  

Candidate Specification:  

• Qualified design engineer (ideally Chartered, professionally qualified, or proactively working towards Chartered/professionally qualified status)  

• Outline and detailed design experience of water and/or wastewater projects  

• Knowledge of the Designer or Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015    

• A proactive and pragmatic approach    

What’s in it for you:   

Financial wellbeing  

• MMB match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.  

• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues including our annual bonus schemes.  

• Payment of annual professional institution subscription costs  

Health and wellbeing  

• A minimum of 33 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays, with the ability to buy, sell or carry over annual leave through our flexible benefits programme.  

• Access to Life Assurance / Private Medical Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance and Health Screening options  

• We are happy to talk openly about flexible working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.  

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.  

Enhanced family and carers leave  

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave plus the option for shared parental leave.  

• Up to 2 paid additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities  

Learning and development  

• MMB are committed to empowering our people to grow professionally and thrive in their careers. We offer structured development schemes that support your journey toward professional chartership. From day one, employees are fast-tracked towards chartership reviews and benefit from mentorship, hands-on experience, and tailored training opportunities  

**Mott MacDonald Bentley are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.**