Principal Designer – Construction & Building Services

We’re looking for an experienced Principal Designer to plan, manage and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase of construction and building-services projects. You’ll coordinate design risk reviews, assess pre-construction information and work with clients, designers and contractors to identify and address foreseeable risks. Alongside this, you’ll maintain accurate CDM documentation and ensure significant risk information is communicated clearly throughout the project.

Working closely with multidisciplinary project teams, you’ll help ensure health and safety considerations are embedded in design development, project planning and handover.

• Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase.
• Support clients in understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities under CDM 2015.
• Identify, collate and review pre-construction information, highlighting gaps and coordinating additional information where required.
• Coordinate design risk reviews, working with designers to eliminate foreseeable risks and reduce or control those that remain.
• Maintain design risk registers and communicate significant residual risks to relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare, review and manage CDM documentation, ensuring information is accurate, current and accessible.
• Coordinate the preparation, review and updating of health and safety files.
• Liaise with Principal Contractors to share relevant design and risk information throughout project delivery.
• Review Construction Phase Plans and associated documentation, providing comments within the agreed scope of the role.
• Facilitate design coordination meetings, recording decisions, responsibilities and outstanding actions.
• Monitor design changes and ensure associated risks are reviewed and communicated.
• Attend project meetings and undertake site visits as required.
• Maintain clear document control, audit trails and project records.
• Escalate significant risks, missing information and unresolved design issues promptly.
• Support improvements to CDM processes, templates and reporting.

• Experience undertaking Principal Designer duties or coordinating CDM activities within construction or building-services projects.
• A sound understanding of CDM 2015 and the responsibilities of clients, designers and contractors.
• Relevant construction, engineering, architectural or building-services knowledge, with the ability to assess and challenge design risks.
• Experience preparing and reviewing pre-construction information, design risk registers and health and safety files.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications and project documentation.
• Confidence coordinating multidisciplinary teams and communicating technical risks clearly.
• Strong document management skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Competence in Microsoft Office applications and electronic document management systems.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites.

• Recognised Principal Designer or CDM training.
• A relevant qualification in construction, engineering, architecture, surveying or occupational health and safety.
• NEBOSH Construction qualification or equivalent.
• Membership of a relevant professional body, such as APS or IOSH.
• Experience with in refurbishment, maintenance, M&E or building-services projects.

• Methodical, organised and proactive.
• Confident challenging incomplete information and raising concerns.
• Collaborative and comfortable working with clients and technical teams.
• Able to explain complex requirements clearly and practically.
• Committed to improving design coordination and project…