OCU are looking for a proactive and well organised Design Project Manager to support and coordinate the delivery of multidisciplinary design work on National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) substation projects. These projects require robust design governance, clear communication, and structured progression through client mandated assurance processes.
A core part of this role involves developing towards the responsibilities associated with a Lead Contractor Design Approval Engineer (LCDAE) and Principal Design Representative (PD-Rep). Within National Grid’s Supplier Requirements framework, LCDAEs & PD-Reps play a key role in ensuring engineering designs meet strict technical and compliance standards for substation and transmission projects.
You do not need to be an LCDAE or PD-Rep today this role provides a supported pathway if you wish to grow into it. Existing LCDAE qualified applicants are equally welcome.
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Coordinate all design activities for NGET substation projects, ensuring timely and high quality outputs.
- Support design governance processes as you develop towards LCDAE & PD-Rep level responsibility.
- Manage the flow of design information between engineering teams, contractors, and the client.
- Organise and facilitate design reviews, interdisciplinary workshops, and design risk assessments.
- Monitor design progress, identify blockers, and drive corrective actions.
- Ensure design deliverables align with project scope, NGET technical standards, safety requirements, and programme milestones.
- Assist with technical queries, document control, change processes, and configuration management.
- Build strong working relationships across engineering, construction, and client teams.
We welcome applicants with diverse experience levels — from those new to National Grid design assurance processes to those already fully LCDAE qualified.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Experience in design coordination, design management, or project management in engineering, utilities, infrastructure, or construction.
- Understanding of multi‑disciplinary design workflows and design delivery environments.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and organisational skills.
- Ability to manage parallel workstreams and maintain structured documentation.
- Interest in working towards LCDAE & PD-Rep competency on NGET substation projects.
Desirable (but not required)
- Existing LCDAE & PD-Rep qualification or experience supporting LCDAE activities.
- Familiarity with National Grid Supplier Requirements or equivalent transmission/substation design processes.
- Project management certifications such as APM.
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A clear training and development pathway towards LCDAE & PD-Rep responsibilities.
- Exposure to nationally significant NGET substation and transmission projects.
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.
- Hybrid/flexible working options.
- Support for professional accreditations and continued development.
At OCU Group, we don’t just deliver infrastructure - we help power modern life.
As one of the UK’s fastest-growing utility and infrastructure businesses, we deliver complex, nationally critical projects across power, energy transition, water, telecoms, and digital infrastructure. Over the last five years, OCU has grown five-fold to a £1.1bn organisation, expanding both organically and through strategic acquisitions across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and India.
Our growth is driven by ambitious people, operational excellence, and a commitment to doing things properly. We work on projects that genuinely matter by supporting the UK’s energy transition, strengthening essential infrastructure, and helping build more sustainable communities for the future.
Whether you’re an experienced professional looking to take ownership of major projects and influence delivery at scale, or someone starting your career through an apprenticeship, graduate programme, or placement route, OCU offers real opportunity to grow, develop, and make an impact.
We are building a business where high performance, collaboration, innovation, and accountability sit at the centre of our culture. Our people are trusted to lead, encouraged to challenge thinking, and supported to continuously develop their skills and careers.
At OCU, you won’t just join a growing business, you’ll help shape it.
Our Culture & Values
At OCU, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We care about safety, lead with integrity, strive to be better every day, make a positive impact, and deliver to grow, together, as One Company United.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At OCU Group, we believe diversity, inclusion, and belonging are fundamental to building stronger teams, better ideas, and a more successful business. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
As part of our commitment to fairness and equality, candidates may be asked to complete an equal opportunities monitoring form during the recruitment process. This information is used for monitoring purposes only and plays no part in hiring decisions.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to offering interviews to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions who meet the essential criteria for the role.
To ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to join our team, please inform us if you require any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment and interview process is, by emailing
[email protected].
