Design Assurance & CDM Lead

The Design Assurance & CDM Lead will support FBRS in the management of design risk, CDM compliance and design integration and assurance activities across the HS2 Track programme. The role will work closely with the Lead Designer, Engineering Management team, Design Managers and Design Partners to ensure health, safety, and occupational hygiene considerations are embedded throughout the design process whilst supporting effective coordination, governance and technical assurance across the Alliance.

The position will act as a focal point for design risk management, Safe by Design activities, CDM coordination and wider design management support functions. The role ensures compliance with the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM), facilitates collaboration between design partners, Rail System Alliance members and promotes the elimination and reduction of risks through the application of Safe by Design principles, as well as effective communication, recording of residual design‑related health and safety risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Assurance & Alliance Coordination: support design assurance and engineering governance activities across the Rail Systems Alliance; coordinate design reviews, design assurance workshops and multidisciplinary technical forums; support Engineering Managers and Design Managers in the management of design risks and design interfaces; support implementation and continuous improvement of Alliance design management procedures; support reporting and communication of key design risks, assurance actions and design management activities; facilitate collaboration between Design Partners, Principal Designer representatives and project stakeholders.
• Health & Safety by Design Coordination: plan, facilitate and coordinate Safe by Design workshops with all design partners and project stakeholders; support multidisciplinary design reviews to ensure health and safety considerations are incorporated into engineering decisions; promote the application of risk elimination and risk reduction principles throughout the design lifecycle; ensure health, safety and occupational hygiene considerations are integrated into design decisions from concept through to detailed design; coordinate and monitor implementation of Health & Safety by Design requirements across all design disciplines.
• Occupational Hygiene Integration: coordinate specialist Occupational Hygienist input into the design process; facilitate engagement between occupational hygiene specialists and design teams to ensure health risks are identified and appropriately managed; ensure occupational health considerations are reflected in design reviews, risk assessments and design outputs.
• CDM Compliance and Principal Designer Support: support coordination between the Client representative (including Principal Designer), Design Partners and Alliance teams on CDM-related matters to fulfil contractual duties in accordance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and works information requirements; assist in establishing and maintaining effective processes for managing health and safety during the pre‑construction phase; assist Design Managers in ensuring design outputs adequately address foreseeable construction, maintenance and operational risks; coordinate identification, assessment and management of foreseeable design risks; promote compliance with relevant legislation, industry standards and project requirements.
• Design Risk Management: support Design Managers in the management and close‑out of design risks and design review actions ensuring capture of residual design risks that cannot be eliminated through design; maintain and coordinate the Design Risk Register ensuring risks are accurately recorded, reviewed and communicated; facilitate design risk discussions across disciplines and design organisations; facilitate design risk reviews and ensure actions are tracked to closure; ensure significant risks are clearly communicated to project stakeholders and future duty holders including construction team members; support coordination of technical interfaces between Track Systems, Main Works Contractors and Design Partners.
• Design Management Support: support Design Managers and Engineering Managers in the coordination of multidisciplinary design activities; assist in the management of design interfaces between disciplines, designers and stakeholders; support preparation of design management reports, dashboards and governance information; contribute to continuous improvement of design management processes across the Alliance.
• Safety Documentation and Information Management: support coordination, accessibility and usability of the Pre‑Construction Information (PCI) Pack provided by the Client; coordinate contributions from design teams to project safety documentation and other safety initiatives; assist in preparation and review of health and safety reports, presentations and project deliverables; ensure design risk information is effectively transferred into project records and handover documentation where required.
• Digital Risk Management Support: promote use of digital tools to improve visibility and management of design risks and assurance actions across the Alliance; utilise digital tools and systems to manage, track and communicate health and safety risks across the project team; support continuous improvement in digital health and safety management processes.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting design management, design assurance or multidisciplinary engineering coordination activities.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary design coordination within major infrastructure or rail projects.
• Understanding of engineering design processes and design management principles.
• Experience working within collaborative project environments involving multiple design organisations and/or alliance models.
• Experience in CDM coordination, Principal Designer support, or Health & Safety by Design roles within construction, infrastructure, engineering, or major projects.
• Strong understanding of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and associated industry standards.
• Experience facilitating multidisciplinary workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Previous experience in a similar role with aligned responsibilities & accountabilities.
• Strong communication, leadership and management skills, with a positive and collaborative approach.
• Able to build effective working relationships across client, contractor and designer organisations.
• Knowledge of design risk management principles and risk register administration.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and organisational skills.
• Proficiency in digital collaboration and risk management tools.
• Health and Safety qualification (e.g., NEBOSH Construction Certificate or equivalent) may be desirable.
• Membership of a relevant professional institution.
• Experience working with occupational hygiene specialists and health risk management processes.
• Experience in major infrastructure, rail, utilities, energy, or complex construction projects.