At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health and safety coordination for construction projects, ensuring compliance with CDM regulations.
- Company: Respected construction consultancy with a focus on safety and innovation.
- Benefits: Up to £60,000 salary, company vehicle, 21 days leave, and career progression.
- Other info: Supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on project safety and work with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Principal Designer or CDM Consultant with strong knowledge of CDM 2015.
We are currently partnering with a growing and highly respected construction consultancy to recruit an experienced Principal Designer (CDM). This is an excellent opportunity for a health and safety professional with a strong understanding of CDM 2015, design risk management and pre-construction planning to join a business delivering a diverse portfolio of refurbishment and residential projects.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with statutory duties under CDM Regulations, supporting clients, designers and project teams to identify, manage and mitigate risk throughout the design and pre-construction phases.
The Role
As Principal Designer, you will lead the coordination of health and safety during the pre-construction phase, ensuring projects are planned and delivered in accordance with CDM 2015 regulations. A significant proportion of the work involves refurbishment and occupied residential environments, requiring a strong appreciation of resident safety, existing building risks, access constraints and construction sequencing.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as Principal Designer across a portfolio of construction and refurbishment projects
- Plan, manage and monitor health and safety during the pre-construction phase
- Coordinate designers and duty holders to ensure effective design risk management
- Support clients in understanding and discharging their CDM responsibilities
- Review surveys, drawings and technical information to identify risks and information gaps
- Lead design risk workshops and maintain risk registers
- Ensure residual risks and design assumptions are effectively communicated
- Liaise with Principal Contractors and wider project teams throughout project delivery
- Prepare and manage Health & Safety Files for project completion
- Attend design team meetings, pre-start meetings and client reviews
- Challenge unsafe design decisions and promote best practice across projects
- Support the continuous improvement of CDM and health & safety processes
About You
We are keen to speak with candidates who have:
- Proven experience operating as a Principal Designer or CDM Consultant
- Strong knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations and associated duties
- Experience coordinating design teams and managing design risk
- A background within construction, surveying, architecture, engineering or health & safety
- Experience working on refurbishment, occupied residential or complex construction projects
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Full UK Driving Licence
Qualifications & Certifications
- HNC, HND or Degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience)
- CDM / Construction Health & Safety qualifications
- CSCS Card (where applicable)
Desirable
- NEBOSH Construction Certificate
- Membership of APS, IOSH or another relevant professional body
- Experience within social housing, residential refurbishment or public sector projects
Package & Benefits
- Salary up to £60,000
- Company vehicle and fuel card
- 21 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Birthday day off
- Christmas shutdown
- Long-term career progression opportunities
- Supportive and growing business environment
Additional Information
- Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
- DBS check required (paid for by the employer)
- Aptitude assessment forms part of the interview process
- Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
- Nine-month probationary period
If you're a CDM professional looking for a role where you can genuinely influence project safety, work closely with clients and design teams, and contribute to the successful delivery of complex refurbishment projects, we'd love to hear from you.
CDM Advisor in Sidcup employer: Build Recruitment Limited
Join a dynamic and respected construction consultancy in Sidcup, where your expertise as a Principal Designer (CDM) will be valued and impactful. With a strong focus on health and safety, you will benefit from a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth through long-term career progression opportunities, alongside competitive benefits such as a company vehicle, generous annual leave, and a birthday day off. This is an excellent opportunity to work on diverse refurbishment and residential projects while making a meaningful contribution to project safety and compliance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land CDM Advisor in Sidcup
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Build Recruitment Limited, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like CDM Advisor at Build Recruitment Limited.
We think you need these skills to ace CDM Advisor in Sidcup
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Build Recruitment Limited
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!