Principal Designer & CDM Lead – Energy Networks

Mott MacDonald Group; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension contributions match

Annual bonus schemes

Employee ownership

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Technical Director – CDM & Design Safety within its Energy Networks practice in the UK. You will provide technical leadership on CDM compliance, safety in design, and risk management across major transmission and distribution programmes.

The role involves advising clients, leading multidisciplinary teams, and embedding CDM processes throughout the project lifecycle to support energy security and net-zero objectives.

Qualifications

• Degree in an engineering, construction or related technical discipline
• NEBOSH Construction Certificate as a minimum
• Higher Health and Safety qualification such as NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ Level 6/7, Occupational Health and Safety Degree or equivalent
• Chartered, Incorporated or progressing toward professional registration
• Membership of a recognised professional institution such as APD, IOSH, IET, ICE, CIOB, RICS, CABE
• Significant experience delivering Principal Designer or senior CDM advisory services on transmission and distribution projects
• Extensive understanding of CDM Regulations 2015
• Demonstrable experience within electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure
• Experience supporting major network owners, DNOs or transmission operators
• Experience across feasibility, concept, detailed design, construction and handover stages
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams through Safety in Design processes
• Experience facilitating HAZID and Design Safety workshops
• Strong understanding of design risk management principles
• Experience working in high-hazard and safety-critical environments
• Proven ability to influence engineering decisions through risk-based thinking
• Excellent technical report writing and presentation skills

Responsibilities

• Deliver Principal Designer and CDM Advisor services on major transmission and distribution projects
• Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase
• Advise clients on their statutory duties under CDM 2015
• Develop and maintain project-specific CDM and design risk management strategies
• Lead the preparation and assurance of Health and Safety Files
• Lead Safety in Design reviews across all project stages
• Facilitate and chair HAZID workshops, Design Safety Reviews, Constructability Reviews
• Support engineering teams in identifying opportunities to eliminate risk through design
• Review hazard registers and design risk assessments
• Challenge engineering solutions to reduce risks
• Support management of safety-critical interfaces between civil, structural, electrical and commissioning activities
• Provide specialist CDM and Safety in Design advice across multiple asset types

Skills

CDM leadership

Safety in Design

Hazard identification

Risk management

Client leadership

Education

Engineering degree

NEBOSH Construction Certificate

Higher Health & Safety qualification

Chartered/Professional registration

Professional memberships (APD, IOSH, IET, ICE, CIOB, RICS, CABE)

Tools

None

Job description

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Technical Director – CDM & Design Safety within its Energy Networks practice in the UK. You will provide technical leadership on CDM compliance, safety in design, and risk management across major transmission and distribution programmes.

The role involves advising clients, leading multidisciplinary teams, and embedding CDM processes throughout the project lifecycle to support energy security and net-zero objectives.