Principal Designer

mustard | B Corp™; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CV and interview guidance

Priority access to exclusive roles

Ethical recruitment support

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is searching for a Senior CDM Principal Designer to join a multi-disciplinary consultancy. This role involves managing Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015 regulations and ensuring safety in design from the start. The ideal candidate will have proven experience with CDM compliance and excellent communication skills. Locations include Birmingham and other UK cities, offering a competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Principal Designer under CDM 2015.
• Excellent understanding of CDM regulations and construction processes.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to produce and manage CDM documentation including pre-construction info, design risk registers, and Health & Safety files.
• Capable of working independently, prioritising tasks and managing time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Act as Principal Designer on various construction projects.
• Lead design risk management across multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide expert CDM and Health & Safety guidance to clients.
• Provide expert CDM and Health & Safety guidance to clients, ensuring compliance.
• Collate and review pre-construction information and manage the Health and Safety File.
• Run design risk review meetings and champion safer design solutions.
• Mentor junior colleagues and support their professional development.
• Conduct site inspections to monitor CDM and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with business development, bid writing, and client presentations.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Communication

CDE familiarity

Education

NEBOSH Construction Certificate

Membership of professional bodies e.g. IOSH, APS, RIBA, CIOB, CABE

Tools

Microsoft Office

Collaboration tools like Teams

Job description

Overview

We’re working in partnership with a leading multi-disciplinary consultancy who are expanding their Construction Health and Safety team across multiple UK locations. They are known for delivering high-impact, compliant solutions to clients in sectors ranging from healthcare and education to commercial, residential and infrastructure.

As a Senior CDM Principal Designer, you’ll take the lead in delivering and managing Principal Designer duties under the CDM 2015 Regulations, ensuring that safety is built into the design process from day one. You’ll join a growing team of specialists with the technical capability and sector variety to challenge and stretch you.

Location, salary and type

Location: Reading | Birmingham | Bristol | Leeds

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience + excellent benefits

Type: Permanent, Full-Time

What you’ll be doing

• Act as Principal Designer on a range of construction projects, from residential schemes to high-profile public sector works.
• Lead design risk management across multidisciplinary teams identifying, mitigating, and managing foreseeable risks.
• Engage early with clients and stakeholders to influence project safety strategy from concept to completion.
• Provide expert CDM and Health & Safety guidance to clients, ensuring compliance and best practice.
• Collate and review pre-construction information and manage the Health and Safety File.
• Run design risk review meetings and champion safer design solutions.
• Mentor junior colleagues and support their professional development.
• Conduct site inspections to monitor CDM and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with business development, bid writing, and client presentations.

What you’ll need to succeed

• NEBOSH Construction Certificate (or higher-level H&S qualification).
• Proven experience as Principal Designer under CDM 2015, particularly on medium to large-scale projects.
• Excellent understanding of CDM regulations, construction processes, and risk management.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Confidence in producing and managing CDM documentation including pre-construction info, design risk registers, and Health & Safety files.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks, and manage time effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and collaboration tools like Teams.
• Ability to live and work in the UK and can commute to one of their city centre locations and sites daily.
• Background in healthcare, industrial, or complex/high-tech environments.
• Familiarity with Common Data Environments (CDEs).
• Membership of relevant professional bodies such as IOSH, APS, RIBA, CIOB, or CABE.

Why apply through mustard?

mustard jobs is a leading B-Corp certified recruitment agency working exclusively in the built environment. We partner with some of the UK’s most forward-thinking architecture, design, and construction firms.

By applying through us, you’ll benefit from:

• Insider knowledge of the hiring company and process
• CV and interview guidance from industry specialists
• Priority access to roles not always advertised elsewhere
• A values-driven, ethical approach to recruitment
• Support from a team who genuinely care about your field

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Strategy/Planning, Consulting, and Design

Industries

• Construction and Building Construction

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