Construction Safety Advisor - Reading, Berkshire

We are seeking an experienced Construction Safety Advisor to support our construction teams by ensuring compliance with CDM regulations, maintaining high standards of on-site safety, and contributing to Human & Organisational Performance (HOP) initiatives. You will be a key partner to project and design teams, bridging the gap between regulatory frameworks and practical site execution.

What you’ll be doing as the Construction Safety Advisor:

• Lead compliance with CDM 2015: support design teams, coordinate pre-construction info, check contractor competence, and handle notifications.
• Conduct design-phase reviews and regular site inspections to identify hazards and apply effective controls.
• Develop and enforce site-specific HSE policies, permit-to-work systems, and toolbox talk frameworks.
• Facilitate HOP-informed workshops (e.g., “work-as-done” reviews, learning teams, after-action reviews) to shift safety culture from blame to system-focused learning.
• Partner with project teams to integrate safety into planning, ensuring systems anticipate human error and support frontline adaptability.
• Plan and deliver safety briefings, inductions, and multi-disciplinary forums, inspired by HOP principles.
• Investigate incidents and near-misses with root-cause analysis grounded in HOP philosophies—viewing individuals as problem-solvers, not problems.
• Maintain rigorous safety records—audit reports, risk assessments, inspection logs—aligned with CDM and UK safety standards.

What you should bring to the role:

• NEBOSH Construction Certificate required; Diploma or CSP preferred - Technician-grade IOSH or equivalent is also necessary.
• Bachelor’s degree/diploma (or equivalent) in Occupational Health & Safety, Construction Management, Engineering, Environmental Management, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in UK CDM roles plus exposure to HOP-style safety systems.
• Proven competence in audits, incident investigations, and digital safety tools (e.g., Procore, ECO Portal).
• CDM 2015 competency: experience fulfilling Principal Designer, Client Adviser, and general CDM Adviser roles.
• Competent in design-phase reviews, competence assessments, and statutory notifications.
• Professional membership in a health & safety body (e.g., IOSH Tech/IOSH Managing Safely, APS, IIRSM).
• Strong understanding of UK CDM regulations, able to implement compliance structures and lead design and construction safety coordination.
• Construction site safety expertise: risk assessments, safety inspections, permit-to-work systems, toolbox talks, and emergency response planning.
• Incident investigation skills: root cause analysis driven by HOP principles.
• Capability to lead no-blame reviews and learning-focused after-action assessments.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary offering up to £60,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Car Allowance.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.