Principal Designer / Principal Designer Advisor

Description

• Evaluate market trends to inform service innovation, pricing models, and delivery strategies
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislative and regulatory changes, ensuring proactive adaptation of internal procedures
• Support knowledge sharing across disciplines and service lines
• Ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act, Building Regulations, and associated legislation throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure proportional, pragmatic, and well-documented approaches to risk management on major projects
• Contribute to internal technical guidance, templates, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through consistent technical excellence and leadership
• Conduct performance reviews, CPD planning, and competency assessments aligned with professional standards (RICS, CABE, etc.)
• Champion a culture of learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Champion a positive and proactive health and safety culture through exemplary leadership
• Uphold rigorous quality assurance, compliance, and safety standards across all technical operations
• Support business development activities by contributing to fee proposals, scope definition, and technical inputs for bids related to PD and compliance services
• Support consistency of PD delivery standards, methodologies, and best practice across projects
• Promote a culture where safety, workplace health, and environmental responsibility are prioritised
• Act as Principal Designer or Principal Designer Advisor on major and complex projects, including higher-risk buildings where required
• Act as a trusted senior advisor to clients on design safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management strategies
• Provide senior-level oversight to ensure projects are delivered to the highest professional, statutory, and SOCOTEC quality standards
• Represent SOCOTEC in client meetings, regulator discussions, and multi-disciplinary design forums
• Support effective project governance, including programme milestones, risk mitigation, and issue resolution
• Ensure that design risk management information is clearly communicated between duty holders
• Work collaboratively with internal teams (building control, fire, façade, structural, and compliance specialists) to deliver integrated outcomes
• Lead the creation and refinement of specialist service lines within the Building Regulation and Compliance division
• Ensure knowledge transfer across teams and consistent application of technical methodologies
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other technical and operational leads to integrate services and optimise resource sharing
• Lead technical audits and peer reviews to ensure consistency, accuracy, and excellence in delivery
• Plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate design work to eliminate, reduce, or control foreseeable health, safety, and building safety risks
• Ensure compliance with SOCOTEC and client quality, safety, and environmental systems
• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior Principal Designers / BR Consultants, and technical staff
• Develop and deliver a structured training and mentoring programme to build technical capability and succession within the team

Requirements

• Expert knowledge of design risk management and statutory compliance
• Clear, confident communicator at senior client and regulator level
• Excellent technical judgement and problem-solving skills
• CSCS card holder favourable
• Strong understanding of the Building Safety Act, CDM Regulations, and associated guidance
• Proven experience acting as Principal Designer or PD Advisor on complex or high-risk projects
• Recognised technical or compliance certifications
• Chartered status with RICS, CABE, or equivalent preferred
• Experience working with multidisciplinary design and construction teams
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capability
• Commercial awareness and ability to support bids and proposal
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in building regulations, design risk management, compliance, or building control

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance