Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health and safety strategies for exciting construction projects while mentoring junior team members.
- Company: Join Tetra Tech RPS, a global leader in consulting and engineering.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative culture, agile working, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-profile projects and shape safer environments.
- Qualifications: HND in a construction-related field and experience in health and safety.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant team dedicated to innovative solutions and sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Tetra Tech RPS continues to grow, and we are strengthening our CDM Consulting team with the appointment of a Principal CDM Consultant. Based from our Newark office, this role offers a unique opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of high‑profile projects with leading developers, supported by a friendly, vibrant and collaborative team. If you are motivated by technical excellence, confident engaging with clients and design teams, and passionate about improving health and safety outcomes across construction projects, this position offers the ideal platform to progress your career.
Our Design Division delivers innovative projects across an extensive range of sectors including residential, logistics, retail, aviation, education, healthcare, water, highways, industrial and energy. Our CDM consultancy plays a central role in shaping these developments, working closely with designers, developers and contractors to simplify the complexities of health and safety management. The team combines the experience of engineers, architectural technologists and health and safety professionals who apply their construction knowledge to de‑risk design, embed sustainability and support safe, compliant and future‑ready solutions. With digital insight and data‑informed design at the core of how we work, we enable clients to fully understand risk and opportunity from the earliest stages of a project.
Purpose & Scope of the Role
As a Principal CDM Consultant, you will play a key part in the safe planning and delivery of commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure schemes. You will use your technical expertise to interpret design information, identify foreseeable risks and influence safe outcomes throughout the project lifecycle. You will act as the main point of contact for clients, designers and contractors, helping them understand their duties and guiding them through the practical application of the CDM Regulations from feasibility through design, pre‑construction, construction and handover. You will work closely with senior colleagues to deliver projects effectively, applying your own initiative to manage your workload while supporting and mentoring junior members of the team. Your role will include reviewing and coordinating project information, undertaking site inspections, contributing to design‑risk workshops, preparing reports and managing essential safety documentation such as pre‑construction information and health and safety files. You will help teams establish transparent, auditable safety systems and support them in navigating site constraints, design changes and evolving requirements as projects progress.
Your Impact in this Position
Your work will directly shape the health and safety strategy of complex and high‑value developments. You will influence decisions at the earliest design stages, helping teams understand risk, develop safe and buildable solutions, and integrate sustainability‑led approaches that support wider project goals. By engaging with designers and dutyholders, you will help ensure that developments are delivered safely and efficiently, meeting regulatory requirements while reducing construction and whole‑life risks. As you advance within the role, you will develop deeper sector experience and contribute to strengthening the technical capability of the CDM Consultancy group. You will support the leadership of multidisciplinary teams, help streamline project information, and contribute to the development of consistent, robust processes that align with our integrated quality, health, safety and environmental management systems. Your success will be reflected in the clarity of your advice, the confidence you instil in clients and the value you bring to the delivery of safe, compliant and innovative projects.
Your Toolkit for Success at RPS
- Technical Expertise & Health and Safety Design Knowledge: You will bring strong technical capability in the interpretation and practical application of the CDM Regulations, underpinned by a background in a construction‑related discipline such as engineering, architecture or health and safety. Your understanding of construction methods, buildability, sequencing and on‑site activity will enable you to analyse design proposals, anticipate risks and influence safe and proportionate solutions. You will apply your experience to help teams establish clear, auditable approaches to health and safety management, drawing on best practice and our integrated QHSE systems to support high‑quality, compliant outcomes throughout each stage of the project lifecycle.
- Stakeholder & Client Engagement: You will be an effective communicator who can engage confidently with clients, designers, contractors and wider project teams. You will build strong, trusted relationships, ask the right questions and translate complex technical and regulatory information into clear, practical, and proportionate guidance. Whether participating in design workshops, leading project meetings or advising dutyholders on their responsibilities, you will bring a professional, collaborative and solutions‑focused approach that supports effective, informed and safe decision‑making.
- Project Delivery & Management: You will demonstrate strong organisational capability and the ability to manage multiple projects with clarity and composure. You will work independently while contributing to wider project coordination, ensuring that health and safety information is accurate, consistent and well‑managed in line with programme requirements. Your approach will support the delivery of design‑risk coordination, site reviews, reporting requirements and essential safety documentation, while your commercial awareness will help ensure that services are delivered efficiently, responsibly and in line with the expectations of clients and project stakeholders. You will also play an important role in mentoring junior colleagues, helping develop capability and maintain consistently high standards across the team.
- Regulatory Awareness & Risk Governance: You will have a strong understanding of the regulatory landscape surrounding construction health and safety, with the ability to interpret legislation and apply the requirements of the CDM Regulations confidently and proportionately. Your understanding of dutyholder responsibilities, risk identification and governance processes will support teams in making informed decisions at each stage of the project lifecycle. You will be confident reviewing design information, assessing site risk, supporting project teams in meeting compliance obligations and guiding designers and contractors toward safe, practical and sustainable mitigation strategies that align with both statutory requirements and client expectations.
Mandatory Requirements
- HND or equivalent in a construction‑related discipline
- Experience within a construction health and safety environment
- Strong working knowledge of the CDM Regulations
- NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction or Occupational Health & Safety
- Excellent communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Why join Tetra Tech RPS?
At Tetra Tech RPS, our people are our success. We thrive on solving the problems that matter—whether in urbanisation, natural resources, or sustainability. With a collaborative culture, agile working, and access to some of the brightest minds in the industry, we empower our teams to deliver exceptional outcomes while building fulfilling careers. In 2023, RPS became part of Tetra Tech, a global leader in consulting and engineering with 30,000 employees across 550 offices in 120+ countries. Together, we combine deep local expertise with global reach, delivering science‑led solutions to complex challenges in water, environment, infrastructure, and clean energy. Join us and be part of a connected, forward‑thinking community that’s shaping a better future.
Principal CDM Consultant employer: RPS
Contact Detail:
RPS Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal CDM Consultant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals, attend events, and join relevant groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they even hit the market.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects and achievements. This is a great way to demonstrate your skills and make a lasting impression on potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their projects. Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs. Confidence and knowledge can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Tetra Tech RPS.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal CDM Consultant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in health and safety, especially in relation to the CDM Regulations. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Principal CDM Consultant.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise: Don’t hold back on demonstrating your technical knowledge! Include specific examples of how you've interpreted design information and managed risks in past projects. This will help us see your capability in action.
Engage with Us: In your application, let us know how you’ve successfully engaged with clients and project teams in the past. We value strong communication skills, so share any experiences that showcase your ability to build relationships and provide clear guidance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at RPS
✨Know Your CDM Regulations
Make sure you brush up on the CDM Regulations before your interview. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these regulations in past projects and how they influence health and safety management. This will show your technical expertise and understanding of the role.
✨Engage with Real Examples
Prepare specific examples from your previous work where you successfully identified risks and influenced safe outcomes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. This will help you demonstrate your problem-solving skills and experience effectively.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Principal CDM Consultant, you'll need to engage with various stakeholders. Practice articulating complex information clearly and concisely. Think about how you can translate technical jargon into practical advice for clients and team members during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Mentoring
Be prepared to discuss your experience in mentoring junior colleagues and leading project teams. Highlight any instances where you've helped others develop their skills or contributed to team success. This will showcase your ability to support and elevate those around you, which is crucial for this role.
