Principal Designer

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit  
The Buildings Unit (BLD) has a major presence in Mott MacDonald's regional offices throughout the UK and mainland Europe, providing a wide range of diverse and transferable cross-sector skills across five key Sectors; Advisory, Built Environment, Energy, Transportation and Water. We also provide local services to customers and technical leadership to the rest of the Group in these sectors. 

Overview of the role 
We are looking for an experienced and driven Principal Designer Advisor (both CDM and Building Regulations) to provide support to clients within multiple sectors including buildings, water, energy, defence, transportation and the built environment.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Nationally deliver the duties of Principal Designer for a diverse client base
• Provide advice to clients on CDM compliance for their projects including the development of CDM Strategy documents, Pre Construction Information Summary Documents and H&S Files
• Assist and advise the Client on the competency of those they appoint into the roles of Designer and Principal Contractor
• Review and comment on the suitability of key CDM documentation e.g. PCI, design risk assessment, Construction Phase Plan, F10 and H&S File
• Review and comment on the suitability of Building Regulations documentation e.g. competency, compliance with approved documents, HRB Gateways 1,2 and 3 submissions
• Facilitate and undertake Health & Safety by Design reviews incl. but not limited to HAZID, HAZCON & HAZOP
• Attend and input into a variety of meetings incl. design team meetings and client meetings to offer advice on hazards / risk at pre-construction and construction stages
• Advise and support Designers with the application of the CDM Principles of Prevention
• Support the maintenance of own workload and assisting with bidding and proposal writing for new opportunities
• Liaise with stakeholders on projects e.g. regulatory bodies, Client, Principal Designer, Designers, Principal Contractor, Contractors and the supply chain
• Be able to draft Health & Safety arrangements, Pre-Construction Information and Health and Safety Files
• Assist Clients in identifying relevant health & safety and pre-construction information and advising them of possible gaps
• Carry out the internal roles of Project Safety Advisor and Principal Designer Advisor

Candidate specification
Essential:

• Flexible with regards to travel and able to travel to sites / projects UK wide on occasion
• Experience of working on large scale projects within the defence/water/energy/education/transportation and built environment sectors
• Clear passion and understanding for effective health & safety managements together with design and construction risk management
• Excellent practical knowledge and experience of applying Health & Safety Legislation and Best Practice, as well as specifically the CDM Regulations and Building regulations 2023 (ENGLAND)
• Chartered or equivalent in a relevant engineering, construction, or project management discipline; or significant relevant experience
• NEBOSH National General and/or Construction Certificate
• Extensive experience in the field of CDM / health and safety consultancy
• Extensive experience of delivering compliant building designs. We would expect the candidate to have detailed knowledge of at least one discipline within the approved building regulation documents (e.g. Approved Document A as a structural engineer)
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary consultancy environment
• Proactive with good organisational capability and effective time management
• Excellent client-facing and communication skills
• Experience of undertaking site H&S inspections and audits
• Good technical / report writing skills
• Experience of and skills in delivery of training and presentations

Desirable:

• NEBOSH diploma/Degree/NVQ in health and safety
• Membership of the Institute for Occupational Health & Safety
• Membership of the Association for Project Safety
• Membership of an engineering related institution
• Experience of undertaking roles in Client, Principal Contractor and Principal Designer organisations and working knowledge of their roles and responsibilities under CDM

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.