Role: Head of Building Safety, CDM & Principal Designer Services

Location: London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol or Birmingham office

Salary: £80,000 – £90,000 + car allowance + bonus scheme.

Sector: Property & Construction

We Recruit Group has partnered exclusively with an independent property & construction consultancy that has a network of offices based across the UK. The business has been operating for 30 years, delivering both project management and building surveying services to their clients across the built environment.

They have ambitious plans for the future and would like to appoint someone to head up and lead their new building safety, CDM and principal designer department. This is a critical hire for the business and they would like to appoint an experienced, competent, client facing professional who has previously worked within a consultancy environment.

This is a senior leadership role with real influence, the successful candidate will be responsible for setting strategic direction, driving technical excellence, and embedding best-practice design safety and regulatory compliance across complex projects and multidisciplinary teams.

Role:

• Lead, develop and continuously improve H&S, CDM Principal Designer and Building Regulations Principal Designer service line.
• Act as the senior technical authority for CDM 2015, the Building Safety Act, Building Regulations and emerging BSR requirements.
• Shape service strategy, competency frameworks, delivery models and digital processes.
• Work collaboratively with Building Surveyors, Project Managers, Cost Consultants, fire safety and façade specialists to integrate statutory compliance into project delivery.
• Drive commercial growth, innovation, and external market visibility for the service line.

Key Responsibilities:

Business & Service Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation and evolution of the PD and design safety service line.
• Ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act, CDM 2015, Building Regulations and secondary legislation.
• Establish consistent delivery frameworks, templates, workflows and digital tools.
• Develop and oversee PD competency assessment frameworks and training pathways.
• Champion internal upskilling on design risk management, duty holder roles and golden thread requirements.
• Support business development, marketing and thought leadership initiatives.

Professional & Technical Services:

• Provide expert advice across the full project lifecycle on CDM and Building Regulations PD duties.
• Oversee and/or deliver PD services including hazard identification, design risk management and compliance documentation.
• Lead on gateway submissions, competence assessments and golden thread compliance.
• Review and approve PD deliverables to ensure regulatory and accreditation standards are met.
• Support project teams with design reviews, risk assessments and site inspections.
• Contribute to bids, tenders and fee proposals.

Client & People Leadership:

• Build trusted relationships with key clients, designers, contractors and regulators.
• Mentor and develop internal teams, fostering a culture of proactive safety and regulatory excellence.
• Deliver CPD and training sessions to clients and internal teams.
• Chair internal H&S / PD working groups and lead peer reviews.

About You:

Essential:

• Chartered or Incorporated member of a relevant professional body (e.g. IOSH, APS, RICS, CIOB, ICE).
• Proven experience delivering or leading CDM PD and/or Building Regulations PD services.
• Strong technical knowledge of the Building Safety Act, CDM 2015 and Building Regulations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex design risk processes.
• Ability to develop service frameworks, quality systems and governance processes.
• Excellent communication, report writing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Passion for developing people and competency-led professional growth.

Desirable:

• Additional H&S, fire safety or design risk accreditations.
• Experience acting as PD on complex or higher-risk buildings.
• Knowledge of digital compliance tools and golden thread information models.
• Commercial experience in service line growth or strategic leadership

Apply:

• Highly competitive senior salary – £80,000 – £90,000.
• Car allowance.
• Hybrid working environment.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Private healthcare and life insurance.
• Competitive pension scheme (5% employer contribution).
• Professional fees and memberships paid.
• Minimum 25 days holiday + bank holidays (with options to buy more).
• Electric car and cycle-to-work schemes.
• Long-service awards, sabbaticals and CSR days.
• Regular social events, team days and wellbeing initiatives.

If you are interested in the role and would like to know more, please get in touch.
Mike@werecruitgroup.com | 07562 945 690