Principal Designer

Principal Designer (CDM)  

Location - Birmingham / Hybrid (3 days on site per week) 

Contract - 6 month initial contract with likelihood of turning permanent       

Working Pattern - Monday - Friday, full time            

Pay - Outside IR35. Negotiable day rate (DOE)                                                        

 

About the role:     

We’re looking for an experienced Principal Designer (CDM) to join our clients Design Management team and take a lead role in delivering CDM 2015 compliance across a portfolio of complex engineering and construction projects.

This is a senior, client-facing role where you will act as the appointed Principal Designer, embedding health and safety into the design process from pre-construction through construction, while providing a professional, billable consultancy service to clients.

You’ll work closely with designers, engineers, contractors, and clients, influencing decisions early and ensuring that foreseeable risks are eliminated or reduced through effective design risk management.

Key responsibilities: 

• Act as Principal Designer in accordance with CDM Regulations 2015, ensuring full legal compliance.
• Plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase.
• Support and coordinate CDM compliance through the construction phase, working closely with the Principal Contractor.
• Lead design risk management, identifying, eliminating, or controlling foreseeable risks.
• Chair and facilitate HAZID / design risk workshops, ensuring actions are closed out.
• Coordinate and manage the duties of designers, ensuring cooperation and compliance.
• Advise clients on their CDM duties and responsibilities.
• Ensure robust CDM documentation, including PCI and design risk records.
• Maintain a clear audit trail to demonstrate compliance and support HSE scrutiny.
• Act as a billable consultancy resource, managing time and client expectations effectively.
• Contribute to the development of internal CDM procedures, templates, and best practice.
• Provide guidance and training to design teams on safety-in-design principles.

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience working as a Senior or Principal Designer (CDM). 
• Strong knowledge of CDM Regulations 2015 across both pre-construction and construction phases.
• Experience managing and leading design risk management activities.
• NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma (or equivalent).
• Background in engineering, construction, design management, or a related discipline.
• Comfortable chairing workshops and challenging designers, contractors, and clients.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
  
  

Desirable:

• Chartered membership (CMIOSH, CEng, MRICS, MICE, RIBA, or equivalent).
• Consultancy or client-facing experience.
• Experience delivering CDM or safety-in-design training.

 

About NRL
The NRL Group connect global companies with the right people to bring engineering projects to life. Supporting contracting companies with energy transition plans and working with our clients to create a cleaner, greener future.
 
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