Principal Designer Building Regulations Consultant

Tetra Tech Europe; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working environment

Job summary

Tetra Tech Europe is seeking a Principal Designer to lead compliance efforts on medium to large projects. This role involves technical oversight, project collaboration, and training junior colleagues within a flexible, hybrid working environment.

The ideal candidate will hold qualifications such as Chartered Architect or Registered Building Control Inspector and possess significant experience in building regulations compliance, design review, and stakeholder interaction. This position offers the opportunity to influence statutory compliance outcomes.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in building regulations compliance and design review.
• Excellent technical reporting and stakeholder communication skills.
• Multi-disciplinary consultancy experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead Principal Designer duties under the Building Regulations.
• Review designs against functional requirements and approved documents.
• Liaise with clients, contractors, local authorities, and RBCAs.

Skills

Building regulations compliance

Design review

Technical reporting

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

Education

Level 2 Registered Building Control Inspector

Chartered Architect (ARB/RIBA)

Chartered Architectural Technologist (MCIAT)

Job description

Location – flexible

Purpose and Scope of the Role

This role is focused on delivering Principal Designer services under the Building Regulations for medium to large projects. Reporting to the PDBR Lead, you will provide technical oversight across the design phase, ensuring statutory compliance, robust design coordination and effective regulatory risk management.

You will work closely with clients, contractors, Registered Building Control Approvers, local authorities and multidisciplinary design teams. While a sound understanding of CDM 2015 is important, the primary focus is on Building Regulations compliance, design review and supporting delivery within the Building Safety Act framework.

Your impact in this position

You will play a key role in helping project teams navigate complex compliance requirements from design development through to submission and approval. Your input will improve design quality, reduce regulatory risk and support clear, auditable decision‑making across projects.

This is an opportunity to influence project outcomes, advise clients on statutory duties and contribute technical leadership in a specialist, fast‑evolving area of the built environment.

Building Regulations Compliance

• Lead Principal Designer duties under the Building Regulations on medium-to-large projects
• Review designs against functional requirements and approved documents
• Identify compliance issues early and help shape practical, robust solutions

Design Coordination and Risk Management

• Work with architects, engineers and specialists to plan, manage and monitor compliance throughout design
• Review and develop design risk assessments across multiple disciplines
• Maintain a risk‑based, technically sound approach to regulatory decision‑making

Technical Advisory and Reporting

• Produce clear compliance statements, advisory reports and application summaries
• Translate complex regulations into practical guidance for clients and project teams
• Support informed decision‑making through high‑quality technical analysis

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise confidently with clients, contractors, local authorities and RBCAs
• Act as a trusted point of contact on building control and compliance matters
• Support the PDBR Lead in advising on duties under the Building Safety Act

Quality, Audit and Team Support

• Maintain accurate compliance records, design changes and audit trails
• Contribute technical guidance to junior colleagues and coordination workshops
• Support best practice across building standards and secondary CDM matters

Training, Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must hold at least one of the following: Level 2 Registered Building Control Inspector, Chartered Architect (ARB/RIBA) or Chartered Architectural Technologist (MCIAT). You will bring strong experience in building regulations compliance, design review and project delivery, plus excellent technical reporting and stakeholder communication skills. Multi‑disciplinary consultancy, Welsh regulations, public sector and health and safety qualifications are advantageous.

Working Environment

This role supports flexible and hybrid working, with a mix of office, site and home‑based activity depending on project needs. Travel to project meetings, local authorities and client sites will be required. Office location and expected office attendance can be tailored around the successful candidate and business requirements.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day‑to‑day role.