Building Regulations Principal Designer

Ellis Williams Architects is seeking an experienced Building Regulations Principal Designer (BR‑PD) to lead compliance, coordination, and safety assurance across our portfolio of projects under the Building Safety Act 2022. The role will ensure that all design work meets statutory duties, supports Gateway submissions, and maintains robust design governance from concept through to completion.

The  ‑PD will work closely with our architectural, landscape, conservation, and technical teams, as well as external consultants, to ensure that building regulations compliance is embedded throughout the design process. The role will be responsible for providing support across all our UK Studios and the successful candidate can be based from any of our UK studio locations. Candidates may come from architecture or other built‑environment disciplines, but must demonstrate competence to act as Building Regulations Principal Designer under Part 2A.

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven experience acting as a Building Regulations Principal Designer under the Building Safety Act 2022, or demonstrable capability to step into the role.
• Deep technical knowledge of Building Regulations (Parts A–T), with strong competence in fire safety, accessibility, energy performance, and safety‑critical design decision‑making.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams, including architecture, MEP, structural, fire, and specialist consultants.
• Strong understanding of Gateway 1, 2 and 3 requirements, including information management, compliance pathways, and regulator engagement.
• Ability to lead design assurance processes, review technical information, identify compliance risks, and drive resolution.
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence engaging clients, Building Control, and the Building Safety Regulator.
• Competence in design risk management, including hazard identification, mitigation strategies, and maintaining safety‑led design records.
• Experience preparing or contributing to Gateway submissions, compliance reports, and structured design information.
• Professional qualification (Architect, Architectural Technologist, Engineer or equivalent) with membership of ARB, RIBA, CIAT, IStructE, CIBSE or similar.
• A collaborative working style, supporting project leads and contributing to Ellis Williams’ internal  ‑PD processes, templates, and continuous improvement.

• Commitment to maintaining professional competence, staying up to date with regulatory changes, guidance updates, and industry best practice.

Flexible and blended hybrid work arrangements, cycle to work scheme, long service rewards, development and mentoring, regular CPD events and employee volunteering programme.

Ellis Williams is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, culture, perspectives, skills and experience to support our innovation and creativity. We are a member of The Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) continuing our journey to be a more inclusive organisation.