Building Regulations Principal Designer in London

Location: Central London offices (hybrid 4 days per week)

Salary: £50,000 - £70,000 (dependent on experience)

Sector: Architect/ Design Practice

We Recruit Group is working with a nationally recognised, award-winning architectural and development consultancy that is looking to appoint an experienced Principal Designer (Building Regulations) to join its established Building Safety and Development Consultancy team.

Established more than 60 years ago, the business has built an excellent reputation for designing and delivering high-quality buildings and places that positively contribute to their communities. The consultancy works across major residential developments, urban regeneration, mixed-use schemes, later living, care, commercial property, industrial developments, retrofit and adaptive reuse.

The organisation is particularly well known for its expertise in housing, large-scale regeneration and later living. Its portfolio includes new neighbourhoods containing several thousand homes, complex town-centre regeneration projects, estate renewal programmes, affordable housing developments and specialist care environments.

The successful candidate will join an established multidisciplinary environment where architects, urban designers, technical specialists, project managers, building safety professionals and sustainability consultants work collaboratively. The business promotes a knowledgeable, supportive and collaborative culture where employees are encouraged to develop professionally and contribute to the continued growth of its services.

The Role:

You will work as part of the specialist Building Safety and Development Consultancy team, acting as Principal Designer under the Building Regulations and supporting clients and internal design teams in meeting their statutory duties. The wider team provides a comprehensive range of building safety services, including Principal Designer delivery, Building Regulations compliance advice, fire safety support, safety cases, digital records, training, site audits and quality inspections.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced design, technical or construction professional who enjoys working closely with clients and multidisciplinary design teams on complex projects. You will plan, manage, monitor and coordinate design work to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations, and the duty holder requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022.

The position would suit someone with a strong architectural, building surveying, engineering or technical background who can confidently interpret regulatory requirements, lead compliance discussions and provide practical guidance throughout the design and construction lifecycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Undertake and lead the Principal Designer role under the Building Regulations.
• Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate design work in relation to Building Regulations compliance.
• Advise clients, designers, contractors and wider project teams on their statutory duties and compliance responsibilities.
• Carry out detailed design compliance reviews against the Building Regulations and relevant Approved Documents.
• Identify, assess and help mitigate design-related compliance risks and residual design risks.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams and ensure compliance matters are identified, communicated and resolved.
• Attend client meetings, design team meetings, workshops and project reviews.
• Prepare and maintain clear compliance trackers, reports, records and supporting documentation.
• Support the development and maintenance of the golden thread of information where applicable.
• Provide specialist advice on fire and structural safety, particularly in relation to Higher-Risk Buildings.
• Support projects through the Building Safety Regulator Gateway process, including Gateways 1, 2 and 3 where applicable.
• Liaise with Building Control Bodies, the Building Safety Regulator and other regulatory stakeholders as required.
• Promote effective cooperation, communication and coordination between dutyholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support internal architectural and technical teams in applying Building Regulations requirements and industry best practice.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the Building Safety Act, Building Regulations, Approved Documents and relevant industry guidance.

Requirements:

• Significant experience, typically seven years or more, in a senior design, technical, building surveying, engineering or project management role.
• Practical, in-depth knowledge of the Building Regulations and the dutyholder regime introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022.
• Experience taking responsibility for design compliance on complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• Demonstrable experience working on Higher-Risk Buildings and an understanding of the Building Safety Regulator Gateway process.
• Strong knowledge of relevant Approved Documents, particularly Parts B, M, K and P.
• The ability to identify, assess and communicate design and compliance risks clearly and proportionately.
• Confidence leading meetings and coordinating clients, designers, contractors and specialist consultants.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex regulatory matters clearly.
• Strong organisational, leadership and project management skills.
• A relevant degree in architecture, building surveying, structural engineering, fire engineering, construction management or a related discipline.
• Chartered status with a relevant professional body such as RIBA, RICS, CIOB, CIBSE, ICE or IFE, or equivalent professional recognition.
• Formal training or direct experience in the Principal Designer (Building Regulations) role would be advantageous.
• Experience using common data environments, digital compliance tools or other digital project delivery systems would be beneficial.
• Experience conducting competence assessments, leading teams or mentoring colleagues would be advantageous.

Apply:

This is an opportunity to join one of the UKs most established and respected architectural and development consultancies, working alongside experienced designers and technical specialists on a broad range of high-profile projects.

Competitive salary in the region of £50,000 - £70,000.

23 day holiday + bank holidays + volunteer days.

Pension scheme @ 4.5% employer contribution.

Enhanced maternity & paternity leave.

Hybrid working environment.

Mental Health Support including counselling.

Permanent health insurance up to 50% of salary.

Season ticket loan & cycle to work scheme.

Summer and Christmas parties, away days, sport teams and monthly events.

Genuine long-term career development within an established national consultancy.

Interested?

If this sounds like the right next step for you, I'd love to have a confidential chat. Even if this particular role isn't quite right, but you're open to exploring new opportunities in the market, feel free to get in touch, we work with employers across the property and construction sector daily, and your ideal role may already be on the table.