Design Director - MEP

The Anthro joint venture between Egis and VVB Engineering will provide comprehensive turn-key services for London’s state-of-the-art HS2 gateway station at Old Oak Common. We have been awarded a multi-year contract to deliver MEPHFC (Mechanical, Electrical Public Health, Fire and Communications) systems works.

We are seeking a Project Director (Design) to lead the Anthro JV design function end to end. You will set the design strategy for the JV, lead a multidisciplinary MEPHFC design organisation of up to 100 engineers, line-manage the Senior Design Managers, and own design delivery, assurance, risk and commercial exposure at portfolio level. You will represent design at the Anthro JV leadership team and interface at senior level with Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra (BBVS), HS2, Network Rail and the wider stakeholder community.

What success looks like in the first 12 months

The JV design strategy is set, resourced and endorsed by the Anthro leadership. The design organisation is structured, staffed and performing against programme. Technical assurance is operating as a predictable discipline, with systemic risks surfaced and intervened on early. Design-driven commercial exposure is understood, visible and under control. The design function is recognised by the client as a strategic strength of the JV.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Governance

• Set and own the design strategy for the Anthro JV across all MEPHFC packages.
• Author and evolve the Anthro Design Management Plan (DMP); define the engineering operating model, resource plan and recruitment profile for the JV.
• Represent design on the Anthro JV leadership team and at JV steering and governance forums.
• Own design risk at JV / portfolio level, set intervention strategy where package level mitigation is insufficient.

Leadership & Team

• Lead a design organisation of up to 100 engineers, line manage the Senior Design Managers and set direction for Lead Discipline Engineers.
• Build and sustain a culture of first-time quality, open technical challenge and professional development.
• Shape the design organisation structure, drive recruitment, succession and talent development across the JV.

Design Delivery (portfolio view)

• Govern delivery of the MEPHFC design programme across all packages, intervene where Senior Design Managers cannot resolve blockers alone.
• Interrogate design output quality, programme compliance and technical risk across the production environment, identify systemic issues and set corrective strategy.
• Ensure consistency and buildability of deliverables across packages; close construction risk at the design stage.

Technical Assurance & Standards

• Own the Technical Assurance framework; set its direction and oversee management of CEMs and CREs under NR/L2/RSE/02009 and associated HS2 SWIs.
• Ensure deliverables are produced in accordance with British Standards, Eurocodes, Network Rail, HS2 and TfL standards across RIBA Stages 2–5 / PACE (formerly GRIP) / ES1–3.
• Discharge CDM 2015 and CSM-REA duties at design-function level, ensuring risks are mitigated ALARP.

Client, JV & Commercial

• Interface at senior level with BBVS, HS2 and the wider client stakeholder community.
• Carry commercial accountability for the design organisation, budget ownership, change management, and oversight of commercial exposure flowing from design decisions.
• Work with the Anthro Project Director and Commercial Director to align design delivery with contract performance and commercial strategy.

BIM, Digital & Innovation

• Set the digital design strategy; govern production and coordination of design information to ISO 19650 / project BIM standards (Bentley Open Buildings Designer, iTwin).
• Champion sustainable, low-carbon design and the adoption of digital tools and innovation across the JV.

Reporting & Governance

• Lead senior internal and external reporting cycles on design progress, risk and performance.
• Represent Anthro design externally in industry forums and Egis technical communities, share knowledge, lessons learned and innovation across the Egis Group.

This role may also include supporting projects internationally for Egis UK Transport or other Egis subsidiaries.

• Extensive post-qualification experience in engineering/technical functions, including a proven track record as Design Director, Head of Engineering or Project Director (Design) on major UK rail or infrastructure programmes.
• Proven ability to assess design output quality, programme compliance and technical risk across production environments of 100+ engineers; identifying systemic issues, setting intervention strategy and holding senior design leaders accountable for delivery.
• Experience leading a design organisation of 100+ engineers across multiple concurrent packages on contracts valued at £250M+.
• Demonstrable experience setting design strategy and authoring Design Management Plans at JV or portfolio level.
• Proven experience delivering on Design & Build contracts, including inside a Joint Venture or consortium structure.
• Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary MEPHFC (Mechanical, Electrical, Public Health, Fire, Communications) design on rail station or comparable complex building services projects, through RIBA Stage 4.
• Experience managing Senior Design Managers and operating the CEM/CRE assurance regime at portfolio level.
• Commercial literacy sufficient to carry budget ownership for a design organisation, including change management and oversight of design-driven commercial exposure.
• Degree in engineering or a related numerate discipline (BEng, BSc or equivalent).
• Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent) from a recognised institution.
• Working knowledge of NEC contracts and project communications (EWNs, CEs, GCs).
• Working knowledge of UK design standards: Network Rail, HS2, TfL and relevant British Standards / Eurocodes.
• Working knowledge of CDM 2015, CSM-REA, RIR, NR/L2/OHS/0047 and related HSE regulations.
• Strong senior-stakeholder, negotiation and client-facing skills in a design-and-build environment.

Desirable

• Prior Project Director or Design Director experience on HS2, Network Rail, LU or TfL programmes.
• Experience sitting on JV, consortium or alliance leadership boards.
• Experience managing offshore / global design production centres at scale.
• Strong understanding of ISO 19650 BIM standards and design integration processes.
• Experience of low-carbon design and sustainability strategy on major infrastructure programmes.
• Externally visible profile in the UK rail or station engineering community (industry bodies, published work, speaking).

YOU MUST HAVE RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We at EGIS are an Equal Opportunities employer and we recognise the value of a Diverse Organisation. EGIS appreciates all job applications. If you decide to apply for an opportunity at EGIS, your application will be assessed based purely on your experience, the essential and desirable criteria, and your suitability for the role. We value each and everyone’s contribution as this builds our culture and means, if you work for EGIS, you will be included, listened to, and respected.

This job profile has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of the work performance by employees within this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications / experience required by employees assigned to the role. This job profile may be subject to future amendments following appropriate discussion.