Design Manager – Wet Utilities, Dubai

SSH is seeking an experienced Design Manager – Wet Utilities to lead and manage the design delivery of wet utility infrastructure across large-scale and complex developments. The role will provide technical and design management leadership for potable water, wastewater, stormwater, irrigation and associated utility networks, ensuring coordinated, efficient and compliant solutions throughout the project lifecycle.The successful candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary design teams, clients, stakeholders and relevant authorities to deliver high-quality infrastructure solutions from concept and masterplanning through detailed design and construction support. Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design and delivery of wet utility infrastructure, including potable water, sewage/wastewater, stormwater drainage, irrigation and associated pumping systems.
• Manage projects through concept, preliminary, detailed design and tender/construction documentation stages.
• Oversee preparation and review of utility masterplans, network layouts, hydraulic calculations, design reports, specifications and technical submissions.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant local authority requirements, international standards, project specifications and sustainability objectives.
• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination with roads, dry utilities, landscape, architecture, structures and other infrastructure disciplines.
• Manage interfaces between proposed utilities and existing infrastructure, identifying clashes, constraints and required diversions.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops, coordination meetings and constructability assessments.
• Coordinate with clients, developers, utility providers and approving authorities throughout the design and approval process.
• Manage design programmes, deliverables and resources to ensure projects are delivered in line with agreed programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Review and approve technical calculations, drawings, reports, specifications and other design deliverables prior to submission.
• Identify design risks and provide technically sound solutions while driving value engineering and design optimisation.
• Support tender and construction stages by responding to RFIs, reviewing contractor proposals and resolving design-related technical issues.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and technical guidance to engineers, designers and BIM teams.
• Promote effective implementation of BIM and digital design workflows within wet utilities delivery.
• Support project leadership in client presentations, technical proposals and the development of project delivery strategies.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline.
• Typically, 12–15+ years of relevant experience, preferably within a multidisciplinary engineering or design consultancy environment.
• Significant experience in the design and management of wet utilities and infrastructure networks for major developments.
• Strong technical knowledge of potable water, wastewater/sewerage, stormwater and irrigation systems.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary infrastructure design packages from concept through detailed design.
• Experience working on large-scale masterplans, mixed-use developments, residential communities, hospitality developments and major infrastructure projects is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of utility authority requirements and approval processes within the Middle East/GCC.
• Experience with relevant hydraulic modelling and infrastructure design tools, such as WaterGEMS, SewerGEMS, StormCAD, Civil 3D or equivalent, would be advantageous.
• Good understanding of BIM, GIS and multidisciplinary digital coordination.
• Professional accreditation such as Chartered Engineer, PE or equivalent would be advantageous.

Key Competencies

• Wet Utilities Design Management
• Infrastructure & Masterplanning
• Multidisciplinary Design Coordination
• Technical Leadership & Design Review
• Authority & Stakeholder Coordination
• Hydraulic Network Design
• Design Risk & Constructability Management
• Client Management
• Programme & Resource Management
• Value Engineering & Design Optimisation
• Team Leadership & Mentoring