Principal Designer

Michael Page (UK); Warrington; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A major recruitment agency is seeking a Principal Designer to manage health and safety during development projects. The role involves coordinating safety compliance, conducting site visits, and liaising with regulatory bodies. Candidates must have knowledge of CDM regulations and experience in health and safety management. This position offers job security and a competitive salary with a range of employee benefits including private medical insurance and pension.

Benefits

Company pension

Private medical insurance

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Employee discounts

Car scheme

Sick pay

Good transport link

Qualifications

• Proven background in health, safety, and environmental management within construction or development projects.
• Experience conducting site visits, risk assessments, and safety audits.
• Confident in liaising with regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage health & safety for projects.
• Coordinate compliance with designers and contractors.
• Conduct site visits and assess hazards.

Skills

Knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations

Health and safety management

Incident investigation

Communication skills

Tools

ISO 45001

ISO 14001

Job description

Real authority and accountability over CDM and health & safety strategy.

The role offers job security, and a competitive salary/

About Our Client

The client is a large housing and regeneration group operating across multiple regions, with a strong focus on delivering safe, compliant, and high-quality construction and investment projects. They are committed to fostering a positive health, safety, and environmental culture while ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and continuous improvement across their operations.

Job Description

• Lead and manage health & safety during the pre-construction phase of development projects.
• Act as Principal Designer under CDM 2015 regulations.
• Coordinate and communicate with designers, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure safety compliance.
• Conduct site visits and assess existing hazards and restrictions.
• Review and advise on construction phase plans and safety documentation.
• Compile and hand over health & safety files at project completion.
• Maintain and audit health, safety & environmental (HS&E) systems in line with ISO standards.
• Liaise with regulatory bodies (e.g. HSE, Environment Agency, Fire Authorities).
• Investigate incidents, analyse trends, and implement corrective actions.
• Deliver CDM and HS&E training to staff and managers.
• Support contractor selection and procurement processes with safety assessments.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance across all construction activities.
• Promote a positive safety culture and ensure continuous improvement in HS&E practices.

The Successful Applicant

• Strong working knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations and experience acting as a Principal Designer.
• Proven background in health, safety, and environmental management within construction or development projects.
• Experience conducting site visits, risk assessments, and safety audits.
• Ability to coordinate design teams, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure safety compliance.
• Familiarity with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards and maintaining accredited systems.
• Skilled in incident investigation, root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Confident in liaising with regulatory bodies such as HSE, Environment Agency, and Fire Authorities.
• Capable of delivering training and guidance on CDM and HSE topics to staff and managers.
• Strong understanding of legal and regulatory compliance in construction health & safety.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience supporting procurement processes and contractor evaluations from a safety perspective.
• A proactive approach to promoting a positive safety culture across teams and projects.

What\'s on Offer

• Company pension
• Private medical insurance
• Employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee discounts
• Car scheme
• Sick pay
• Good transport link