CDM Principal Designer

Brandon James; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A multi-disciplinary architectural practice based in Birmingham is seeking a professional for a new role in their Health and Safety team. This position involves collaborating with senior design and H&S leads to enhance risk management from the design stage. The role offers hybrid working, a supportive culture, and opportunities for direct mentoring and progression within the team. Candidates with a background in design or relevant qualifications in Health and Safety are preferred, but the practice is open to developing the right candidate.

Benefits

Hybrid working tailored to the individual

Workplace pension and employee support scheme

Annual bonus if turnover targets are met

22 days annual leave plus long service awards

Qualifications

• Background in design or architecture, or experience in understanding design-related risk.
• Health and Safety qualifications are beneficial but not essential.
• Willingness to travel occasionally across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Support design teams by identifying design risks at early stages.
• Provide Health and Safety advice across various project sectors.
• Collaborate with architects and external consultants.
• Contribute to achieving compliance with CDM regulations.

Skills

Health and Safety knowledge

Strong communication skills

Understanding of design-related risk

Job description

About the Company

A long-established, multi-disciplinary architectural practice with 40+ staff is expanding its in-house Health and Safety function. The practice operates across five specialist teams, three of which focus on healthcare, with the others covering industrial, commercial and general architectural work.

They deliver a broad range of projects from small refurbishments to major capital works up to 25m, including extensive healthcare estate upgrades, new clinics, internal reconfigurations, large extensions and industrial developments. They also support external partners on energy and decarbonisation schemes.

The business has a strong order book and a down-to-earth culture, with a clear focus on collaborative working, technical quality and early-stage design integration.

Over the past three years they have brought CDM and Health and Safety processes back in-house. The foundations have been built by two senior leaders who now need an additional professional to strengthen the department and support the growing project workload.

The Role

This is a new position within the Health and Safety team, working closely with senior design and H&S leads to embed risk management at the earliest stages of design. You will be involved from Stage 0 onwards, supporting project teams and ensuring best practice is followed across both healthcare and commercial projects.

The role will include office collaboration, remote working and travel to sites across the UK, depending on the needs of each project. Travel will always be fully expensed.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the development of a growing in-house function and build a long-term career within a supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support design teams by identifying, assessing and communicating design risks at early stages


• Provide Health and Safety advice across a range of project sectors and sizes


• Carry out site visits on a project-by-project basis


• Assist in maintaining and improving internal documentation and processes


• Collaborate with architects, technical teams and external consultants


• Contribute to achieving compliance with CDM regulations


• Help embed a proactive safety culture within the practice

What They Are Looking For

• A background in design, architecture, or experience that allows you to understand and demonstrate design-related risk


• Health and Safety or CDM knowledge (qualifications are advantageous but not essential)


• Strong communication skills and the confidence to work closely with senior designers


• Someone who wants to grow within a developing department rather than simply set up systems


• A stable career history with a genuine interest in design-stage safety


• Willingness to travel occasionally across the UK

Candidates with both design and Health and Safety qualifications will be strongly positioned, but the practice is open to developing someone who shows the right blend of interest and capability.

What’s on Offer

• Hybrid working tailored to the individual


• Weekly office touch point with flexibility around remote working


• Workplace pension and employee support scheme covering healthcare, counselling and financial advice


• 22 days annual leave plus long service awards


• Annual bonus of around 2-3k if company turnover targets are met


• Direct mentoring and progression within a newly developed department


• Supportive working culture within a multi-disciplinary team