Principal Designer

Bennett & Game are delighted to represent a leading and well-established, multi-disciplinary Top 150 consultancy based in Bristol, with national coverage through 10 offices, who are currently seeking an ambitious Principal Designer to join their expanding team.

Our client is open-minded in their search and welcomes applications from Architects, Technologists and other Construction professionals. With a legacy spanning over 50 years, our client has grown to a team of over 180 professionals, including a dedicated team of 15 in their Bristol office. They work across a diverse range of projects, spanning Residential, Education, Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Commercial, and Public Sector developments.

Their Telecoms, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing team works with national operators and contractors on complex projects, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence. They are a trusted partner, adept at handling sensitive national infrastructure programmes and designing secure, high-quality environments. Their professional services have expanded under the Building Safety Act, hence the need for a Principal Designer to join their expanding team.

The successful Principal Designer will need to ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act (BSA) and Building Regulations (BR) for their clients. The successful Principal Designer will have a detailed understanding of the regulations' functional application and their impact on business-critical functions, particularly within complex environments like Higher-Risk Buildings.

Principal Designer Salary & Benefits

Competitive salary ranging between £50,000 – £60,000 – potentially more for the right candidate
Close mentoring and progression opportunities
25 days annual leave plus 8 days bank holiday, holiday increases with service
Ability to purchase and sell holiday
Professional fees paid for
Enhanced pension scheme
Private healthcare
Social office- team building exercises
Cycle to work scheme
Sick pay insurance
Life insurance
Critical illness cover
Opportunity to work on high-profile, critical national infrastructure projects.
Support for continued professional development (CPD).
Obtain a key role in a growing and competent team at the forefront of the new building safety regime.
Other company benefits to be discussed at interview stages

Principal Designer Job Overview

Act as the lead Principal Designer as defined by the Building Safety Act (BSA) and Building Regulations (BR) for projects in Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) and non-HRBs.
Develop, submit, and manage successful applications to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), navigating Gateways 1, 2, and 3
Provide expert consultancy on the functional application of regulations for complex upgrades, relocations, and acquisitions within the telecoms, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors.
Liaise and coordinate with clients, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants, and regulatory bodies to successfully deliver projects.
Lead project design and technical phases, reviewing drawings and specifications to ensure compliance.
Develop and manage reliable build programmes with business continuity at the heart of planning.
Design and space plan for specialist manufacturing, assembly, and laboratory functions within clean and secure environments.

Principal Designer Job Requirements

Significant experience in a role as a Principal Designer or a senior design role with extensive responsibility for CDM Health and Safety and Building Regulations.
In-depth, practical knowledge of the Building Safety Act 2022, Building Regulations, and associated legislation.
Proven experience assisting clients with successful applications to the Building Safety Regulator.
A professional qualification (e.g., Chartered Architect or Architectural Technologist). and membership with a recognised professional body (e.g., RIBA, ARB, CIAT).
Demonstrable experience working on complex commercial, industrial, or infrastructure projects.
Driving license
Live within a commutable distance of Bristol

Principal Designer Salary & Benefits

Competitive salary ranging between £50,000 – £60,000 – potentially more for the right candidate
Close mentoring and progression opportunities
25 days annual leave plus 8 days bank holiday, holiday increases with service
Ability to purchase and sell holiday
Professional fees paid for
Enhanced pension scheme
Private healthcare
Social office- team building exercises
Cycle to work scheme
Sick pay insurance
Life insurance
Critical illness cover
Opportunity to work on high-profile, critical national infrastructure projects.
Support for continued professional development (CPD).
Obtain a key role in a growing and competent team at the forefront of the new building safety regime.
Other company benefits to be discussed at interview stagesBennett & Game Recruitment are acting as a Recruitment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Bennett and Game Recruitment are a multi-disciplined technical recruitment agency based in Chichester, West Sussex operating across the UK with specialist teams covering a range of industries.

We are acting as a Recruitment Agency in relation to this vacancy, and in accordance with GDPR by applying you are granting us consent to process your data, contact you about the services we offer, and submit your CV for the role you have applied for