Senior Health & Safety Consultant

Ridge and Partners LLP; Cheswick Green; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction consultancy in the UK is seeking a Senior CDM Principal Designer to oversee health and safety in diverse construction projects. The ideal candidate will have essential experience in the CDM Principal Designer role and be adept at managing risks and ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation. This position involves advising clients, coordinating design teams, and supporting compliance activities.

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering The CDM Principal Designer role is essential.
• Strong working knowledge of CDM Regulations 2015 and wider construction health and safety legislation.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Principal Designer on a range of projects.
• Lead design risk management across multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide competent advice to clients on their duties under CDM Regulations.

Skills

Communication skills

Coordination skills

Time management

Health and safety compliance

Education

NEBOSH Construction Certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Common Data Environments (CDEs)

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior CDM Principal Designer to lead and manage the delivery of CDM duties across a wide range of construction projects ranging from domestic to complex and high‑profile. The right candidate should be able to ensure that health and safety is embedded into the design process and that legal duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 are discharged effectively.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in design or construction‑related health and safety, experience delivering CDM Principal Designer duties, and the ability to influence clients, designers, and contractors. Experience in delivering The CDM Principal Designer role is essential., NEBOSH Construction Certificate (or higher) or equivalent health and safety qualification.

Responsibilities

Act as the Principal Designer as defined under CDM 2015 on a range of projects across sectors such as healthcare, education, commercial, residential, and infrastructure.

Lead the coordination of design risk management across multidisciplinary teams to eliminate, reduce, or control foreseeable risks.

Engage early with clients and design teams to influence project planning and promote best practice health and safety from concept through to completion.

Provide competent advice to clients on their duties under CDM Regulations and other relevant health and safety legislation.

Review and collate pre‑construction information and identify gaps or areas requiring action.

Prepare and manage the Health and Safety File, ensuring completeness and usability.

Chair and participate in design risk review meetings and workshops.

Mentor and support CDM and H&S professionals across the team.

Contribute to business development, bid writing, and client relationship management.

Undertake site inspections and monitoring visits to determine CDM compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering The CDM Principal Designer role is essential.
• NEBOSH Construction Certificate (or higher) or equivalent health and safety qualification.
• Experience acting as CDM Principal Designer on medium to large projects.
• Strong working knowledge of CDM Regulations 2015 and wider construction health and safety legislation.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to lead meetings and engage confidently with clients, designers, and contractors.
• Proficient in preparing pre‑construction information, design risk registers, and Health and Safety Files (CDM Documentation).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective time management and organisation.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Teams and Associated software.
• Confidence to challenge unsafe design choices and promote safer alternatives.
• Commitment to upholding safety standards and continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Experience in healthcare, industrial, manufacturing, science, or other complex building environments.
• Experience using Common Data Environments (CDEs).
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. IOSH, APS, RIBA, ICE, CIOB, CABE).