Health, Safety & CDM Consultant / Principal Designer Representative (Energy)

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A Little More About Your Role… We are seeking a commercially aware Health, Safety & CDM Consultant to join our growing team, supporting the safe and successful delivery of major power, electricity transmission and distribution, and wider energy infrastructure projects across the UK. This role combines technical CDM expertise with client‑facing advisory responsibilities, supporting clients and project teams to embed effective risk management at the earliest stages of project development. You will play a key role working with major infrastructure clients, including transmission owners and network operators such as National Grid and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). Acting as a Principal Designer Representative, you will influence design decisions, shape safer outcomes, and provide practical, proportionate and commercially focused advice across complex, multidisciplinary projects. As a Health, Safety & CDM Consultant, you will operate across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure and energy projects, with a strong focus on pre‑construction and design‑stage risk management.

Working Alongside Designers, Engineers, And Project Managers, You Will:

• Ensure health and safety is designed into projects, not applied retrospectively
• Support clients in meeting their statutory duties under CDM 2015
• Influence project outcomes by balancing risk, delivery, and commercial considerations

Key Responsibilities:

• Client Advisory & Commercial Delivery: Provide high‑quality, pragmatic health & safety advice across power and energy infrastructure projects. Act as a trusted adviser, balancing compliance requirements with delivery and commercial realities. Support the development of long‑term client relationships through consistent, high‑quality delivery.
• CDM & Principal Designer Services: Lead and support CDM 2015 compliance throughout the pre‑construction phase. Act as Principal Designer Representative, supporting clients in discharging their duties. Coordinate with designers, contractors, and stakeholders to identify and reduce risk.
• Design Risk Management: Facilitate and lead design risk reviews and workshops. Ensure hazards are eliminated or mitigated at source wherever reasonably practicable. Promote best practice in 'safety by design' across multidisciplinary teams.
• Project & Sector Delivery: Support projects within the power and energy sector, including electricity transmission and distribution, substations, and grid infrastructure. Engage with clients such as National Grid, DNOs, developers, and Tier 1 contractors. Maintain continuity between client engagement, design development, and delivery.
• Project Oversight & Assurance: Undertake audits, design reviews, and site visits to monitor compliance and performance. Contribute to and review key CDM deliverables, including Pre‑Construction Information, Hazard/Risk Registers, and Health & Safety Files. Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and best practice sharing.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: Engage effectively with clients, designers, and project teams. Deliver briefings, workshops, and training to promote good CDM and design risk practices. Provide clear, practical interpretation of legislation aligned to project‑specific challenges.
• Regulatory & Industry Compliance: Ensure compliance with CDM 2015, the Building Safety Act (where applicable), and wider H&S legislation. Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of industry standards and regulatory changes. Support internal governance, assurance, and quality processes.

What We Are Looking For You To Demonstrate…

• Strong working knowledge of UK health & safety legislation, particularly CDM 2015.
• Experience in a CDM, Principal Designer, or H&S advisory role.
• Experience in infrastructure or utilities environments, with exposure to power, electricity transmission & distribution, or energy sector projects (e.g. National Grid, DNOs, or similar clients).
• Demonstrable experience supporting design risk management and pre‑construction activities.
• Ability to provide practical, solutions‑focused advice (not purely compliance‑led).
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Organised, proactive, and able to operate across multiple projects and stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience working within power / utilities or major infrastructure projects (e.g. substations, grid connections, transmission or distribution networks).
• Exposure to major project environments or Tier 1 contractor frameworks.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary engineering or infrastructure delivery teams.

Qualifications & Professional Memberships:

• Degree (or equivalent) in construction, engineering, health & safety, or related discipline (or HNC/HND with significant relevant experience).
• NEBOSH General / Construction Certificate, NVQ Level 6 (or equivalent), or working towards IMaPS / CMaPS (desirable).
• Chartered membership (or working towards) with APS, IOSH, or IIRSM.

What’s in it for you?

• Work‑life balance – At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.
• Inclusivity & Belonging – We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.
• Health & Wellbeing – We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
• Flex your time – To enhance work‑life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part‑time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
• Your development – We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

Equal opportunities: Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.