Principal Design Representative

Principal Design Representative (CDM / Health & Safety)

Location: North West England, Greater Manchester, Manchester

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)

Industry: Engineering / Energy

Salary: £60,000+ per annum (depending on experience)

Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Principal Design Representative to join a leading engineering consultancy within the Energy sector. This is a key office-based role focused on CDM compliance, Health & Safety in Design, and Design Assurance across major infrastructure and utility projects.

Working closely with clients, project teams, designers and contractors, you will ensure that design activities comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 while promoting best practice in risk management and safe design. This is not a hands-on design position but a governance and assurance role, ensuring projects are delivered safely, compliantly and in line with client expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Act as the Principal Design Representative across a portfolio of engineering and infrastructure projects.
Lead and coordinate CDM compliance throughout the design lifecycle.
Ensure designers identify, eliminate and reduce foreseeable health and safety risks.
Review and maintain design risk registers, ensuring residual risks are communicated effectively.
Coordinate multidisciplinary design reviews and design assurance meetings.
Provide technical guidance on Health & Safety in Design and promote a proactive safety culture.
Review design documentation to ensure compliance with legislation, industry standards and client requirements.
Liaise with clients, Principal Contractors, designers and project stakeholders to resolve design and compliance issues.
Monitor compliance with CDM Regulations 2015, company procedures and project governance requirements.
Support audits, lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives.
Mentor and support project teams in the application of CDM principles and design risk management.

Required Qualifications

Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Construction, Health & Safety or a related discipline.
Strong working knowledge of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Membership of a relevant professional institution or working towards professional accreditation is desirable.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Construction Management, Health & Safety or a related subject.
Additional qualifications in Health & Safety, CDM or Design Management would be advantageous.

Experience

Proven experience within a Principal Designer, Design Management, Design Assurance or CDM-focused role.
Experience working within utilities, energy, power, civil engineering or major infrastructure projects.
Demonstrable experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams and managing design risk.
Strong background in client liaison, stakeholder management and design governance.
Experience reviewing technical documentation, design deliverables and design risk registers.

Knowledge and Skills

Excellent knowledge of CDM Regulations 2015 and Health & Safety by Design principles.
Strong understanding of design assurance, design governance and risk management.
Ability to influence multidisciplinary teams and challenge design decisions where necessary.
Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Analytical approach with excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
High level of attention to detail and commitment to quality, compliance and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

NEBOSH Construction Certificate or NEBOSH General Certificate.
IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) experience or certification.
Membership of IOSH, APS, ICE, IET or another recognised professional institution.
Chartered status or working towards professional accreditation.

Working Conditions

Predominantly office-based role located in Manchester.
Occasional travel to client offices and project sites across the UK as required.
Standard 37.5-hour working week with flexibility to meet business and project requirements.
Collaborative professional working environment with excellent opportunities for career progression and professional development.
Opportunity to work on high-profile energy and infrastructure projects with a strong focus on safety, compliance and engineering excellence
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed