
Design Manager
Job Description
Posted on: March 26, 2026
About The RoleJob Title: Design Manager Location: Central Belt of Scotland (Euro Central) / Peterhead / North of Scotland
- If Central Belt based - You will need to spend 2-3 days a week/ fortnightly in Peterhead once we are at site at turn of the year 2027.
- If North of Scotland Based - You will spend 2-3 days a week/ fortnightly in the Head Office in EuroCentral / Central belt with the wider team until we are on site
Company: Balfour Beatty- Scotland (Energy) Project: ASTI – Converter Station Build Balfour Beatty has an exciting opportunity for a Design Manager to join our team delivering the Lot 2 Converter Station project at Netherton, a major asset within the ASTI (Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment) programme—one of the most significant energy infrastructure initiatives currently underway in Scotland. Why This Role? Joining this project places you at the heart of a nationally important, multi‑year energy infrastructure programme. You’ll be working on complex, high-impact engineering assets that play a direct role in grid transformation, renewable energy growth and long‑term network resilience. About The ASTI Programme The ASTI programme is a multi‑billion‑pound national infrastructure framework upgrading Scotland’s high-voltage transmission network and enabling the UK’s transition toward Net Zero. It includes the delivery of 17+ HVDC converter stations, major civils works, substations, cable routes and associated systems, forming the backbone of the UK’s future grid capacity.
- HVDC "motorway" routes will efficiently move clean energy from offshore wind to the national grid.
- Balfour Beatty has secured the largest share of the ASTI Onshore Framework, supporting major investment, UK manufacturing, and long-term programme delivery.
- Regional Scotland is delivering HVDC converter stations, including Netherton, as part of a long-term pipeline of strategically critical assets.
The Netherton Converter Station is a key part of the SSEN/National Grid HVDC link and one of the programme’s flagship sites. What you'll be doing About The Role As Design Manager, you will coordinate, manage and control the design process across both pre‑construction and construction phases on a technically complex, high‑value converter station project. You’ll ensure design solutions are safe, buildable, robust, and aligned with client and programme requirements. This role will support Work Winning, Design Development, and then Site Delivery, contributing to design strategy, BIM coordination, risk management, and multidisciplinary integration. Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage design development to meet customer, technical, and programme requirements
- Provide buildability and technical insight across disciplines
- Coordinate internal and external design teams, including novated consultants
- Implement BIM protocols and digital information management
- Manage design deliverable schedules and formal gate reviews
- Liaise with statutory authorities, supply chain partners, and client representatives
- Support bid deliverables, technical submissions and multidisciplinary coordination
- Contribute to risk, value engineering, and Lean construction activities
- Promote Zero Harm, sustainability and Balfour Beatty values
Who we're looking for EssentialSkills & Experience
- Experience within design consultancy and/or main contractor design management
- Strong technical and coordination background
- Good working knowledge of BIM
- Understanding of site‑based delivery and design integration
- Excellent communication and stakeholder skills
- Professional membership (or working towards) and a valid CSCS card
Desirable
- Experience on major civils, energy or infrastructure projects
- Strong IT capability and familiarity with design codes and procurement routes
Professional and personal development The size and scale of Balfour Beatty coupled with our strong pipeline of work provides incredible opportunities, regardless of what stage you are at in your career. We encourage and empower our employees to take control of their career and explore which part of the business they want to work in and what role is right for them. We actively encourage our managers and employees to have open communication throughout the year about wellbeing, development and career opportunities. We're proud of the Balfour Beatty Academy. Whether it’s sharpening your technical expertise, improving your personal skills or seeking support to become professionally qualified, our 70:20:10* approach to development means we have a learning approach that suits everyone.
- 70% learning on the job, 20% learning from those around you, and 10% formal training courses and learning events.
For further information about Balfour Beatty Scotland please go to www.balfourbeatty.com/careers/Scotland - You can also check out further job opportunities in the careers section Why work for us Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities. Why join us?Benefits As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:
- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…
About Us From Dunfermline’s tramways in 1909 to highland hospitals today, Balfour Beatty has been trusted for over a century to deliver the complex and critical infrastructure and iconic buildings Scotland relies on. We have the people, knowledge and experience to safely deliver projects right first time, maximising value for money and ensuring a positive social impact and inclusive economic growth for local communities. Our award-winning sustainable projects, including active travel, Passivhaus and retrofit, demonstrate our commitment to supporting Scotland’s transition towards net zero in the built environment. Diversity and inclusion At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/ We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: candidaterecruitmentqueries@balfourbeatty.com
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