Principal Designer (CDM & Health and Safety)
Term : Permanent
Work Arrangement: Remote + travel to client sites
Location: Bramhall; Regional travel across client sites within the North West
Salary: £55,000–£60,000 + approx. £4,800 car allowance, with flexibility on base salary for exceptional candidates.
About Us
Our client is a leading independent national consultancy delivering high‑quality Health, Safety & Environmental services since 2008. Their continued growth is driven by our commitment to excellence and strong partnerships with major clients across multiple sectors.
They are now seeking an experienced CDM Advisor / Principal Designer to support infrastructure, public‑sector, bulk material handling, and engineering projects across the region. This role offers the opportunity to work with major clients and contribute to the delivery of safe, compliant, and well‑managed construction and engineering environments fulfilling the role principal designer for our clients.
The Role
Reporting to the Operations Director – Infrastructure & Engineering, you will provide proactive CDM and H&S support across multiple live projects. Typical environments include public‑sector infrastructure upgrades, utilities, bulk material handling facilities, and engineering-led construction works.
Key responsibilities include:
- Conducting regular site inspections and compliance visits across regional client sites
- Providing technical CDM and H&S guidance to project managers, engineers, and principal contractors
- Supporting the development and review of pre‑construction information, construction phase plans, and risk assessments
- Completing monthly compliance checks, audits, and client reporting
- Attending and contributing to project review meetings and design risk workshops
- Supporting client-side H&S and CDM teams with ongoing project governance
- Investigating incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions, producing clear and actionable reports
- Delivering in‑house training and toolbox talks to engineering teams and site operatives
- Building strong, trust‑based relationships with client stakeholders and contractors
- Participating in external inspections with regulators, clients, and principal contractors
- Ensuring CDM 2015 compliance across all project phases
Please note: This list is not exhaustive, and additional duties may be required in line with business needs.
What We’re Looking For
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- NEBOSH General or Construction Certificate
- Demonstrable UK experience within infrastructure, engineering, utilities, or public‑sector in a project engineering and or project management role
- Experience of industrial plant and process design
- Experience and understanding of construction methodologies across industrial and infrastructure projects
- Experience, and certification for, acting as a Temporary Works Co-Ordinator
- Strong working knowledge of CDM 2015
- Full UK driving licence
- Comfortable with regional travel to client sites (occasional overnight stays may be required)
Desirable
- Minimum 5 years in a similar CDM/H&S advisory role
- Experience supporting engineering-led or heavy industrial environments
- Understanding of bulk material handling operations or public‑sector procurement frameworks
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to manage your own diary and workload efficiently across multiple sites
- Proactive, solutions‑focused approach
- Ability to read and understand technical drawings and/ or specifications
- Confident in producing detailed, timely reports
- Ability to influence and support multidisciplinary teams
What We Offer
- Competitive salary + car allowance
- 31 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
- Company mobile and laptop
- Supportive team environment with experienced managers and advisors
- Opportunities for professional development