Matchtech are working with a key client to support the recruitment of a Construction Design Manager to work on a contract basis within the railway industry. This role is a hybrid position with a requirement to be on client site in London 3 days a week.
Job Summary
The CDM Lead will serve as the principal point of accountability for health, safety and CDM-regulation compliance across the design, planning and pre-construction phases of the Euston Station project. The post holder will ensure that all CDM duty-holder obligations under CDM 2015 are fulfilled, that pre-construction information is compiled, risk management is embedded in design, and health & safety coordination is maintained throughout interfaces between design, engineering, and construction teams.
Reporting to senior assurance/engineering management, the CDM Lead will work closely with clients, designers, contractors and multidisciplinary project teams to plan, manage and monitor health and safety from initial design inception through to construction handover. The role will drive a strong safety culture, ensure delivery of the "golden thread" of health and safety information, and maintain the necessary documentation and communication to ensure ongoing compliance and safe delivery of the project.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the consistent application of client CDM Risk Management processes across all design, construction and handover stages, ensuring hazards are identified, assessed and mitigated in accordance with the principles of prevention.
- Oversee creation, maintenance and quality of CDM Risk Registers, ensuring designers and subcontractors record hazards, mitigations and residual risks using client templates.
- Chair or support CDM Risk Review Meetings, challenging designers' risk assessments, proposed mitigations and residual risk handovers.
- Ensure the formal handover of design-stage residual risks to delivery teams and the handover of construction-stage residual risks to operators/maintainers.
- Lead management of Pre-Construction Information (PCI), including assessment, update, relevance checks, and coordination of changes with HS2 via the ORIS PCIP review process.
- Oversee cascade of PCI to all consultant and subcontractor packages, ensuring accurate allocation based on spatial breakdowns and package scope.
- Identify missing, outdated or duplicated PCI and raise proposed additions or removals through HS2's PCIP Review Meeting process.
- Manage CDM interface issues, ensuring clear demarcation and ownership of risks across third-party boundaries such as LUL, NR, utilities and HS2 systems.
- Oversee development, collation and submission of Project-Specific Health & Safety Files, ensuring designers and subcontractors provide required information for HS2's overarching file.
- Support Delivery teams and subcontractors to ensure residual risks are incorporated into RAMS and safe systems of work.
- Ensure CDM competence requirements are met within design, delivery and supply chain teams, in line with
- Provide leadership, guidance and reporting on CDM compliance, supporting internal assurance, audits and continuous improvement of CDM processes.
Technical Competencies
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of CDM Regulations 2015, including the duties of Client, Principal Designer, Designers, Principal Contractor and Contractors.
- Strong understanding of CDM risk management processes, including hazard identification, application of the principles of prevention, risk mitigation, and lifecycle residual risk handover.
- Ability to review, challenge and assure CDM Risk Registers for completeness, consistency and compliance with client processes.
- Strong knowledge of Pre-Construction Information (PCI) management requirements, Master PCIP content, cascade processes, ORIS PCIP controls and supplier allocation methods.
- Experience coordinating CDM activities across design lifecycle stages and construction stages.
- Understanding of Health & Safety File requirements, including collation, structure and integration into HS2's overarching file.
- Ability to interpret technical drawings, models, and design information, including SHE boxes, risk triangles and cross-referencing to risk registers.
- Understanding of interfaces with system safety and project risk management processes and ability to ensure alignment.
Desired
- Experience working on major rail or complex infrastructure projects with multiple interfaces (HS2, LUL, NR, utilities).
- Familiarity with document control systems such as Aconex, ProjectWise, eB and SharePoint, particularly for PCI and CDM documentation flows.
- Understanding of the Lead Designer Management System and competence management expectations under HS2 WI 300.
- Experience supporting or conducting internal audits and assurance activities related to CDM compliance.
Behavioural Competencies
Essential
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence designers, subcontractors and stakeholders to follow CDM processes.
- Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex technical or regulatory issues clearly to multidisciplinary teams.
- Highly organised, methodical and detail-focused, with the ability to manage large volumes of H&S and design information.
- Collaborative working style, able to coordinate across design, delivery, HS2, operators and third parties.
- Demonstrates integrity and commitment to safety, compliance and professional standards.
- Proactive approach to problem-solving and issue resolution, including escalations where information is missing or inaccurate.
Desired
- Ability to mentor and develop junior staff in CDM and design-safety processes.
- Skilled at managing competing priorities in a fast-moving programme environment.
- Comfortable facilitating workshops, reviews and risk meetings with diverse attendees.
- Evidence of driving continuous improvement in safety and design-management processes.
Qualifications, Certifications and Experience Required
Essential
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in engineering, construction management, design management, health & safety or similar discipline.
- Substantial experience working in CDM-related roles (e.g., CDM Coordinator, Design Manager, Safety Manager, Principal Designer support).
- Demonstrable experience managing CDM processes for multi-disciplinary infrastructure or major construction projects.
- Proven ability to manage PCI, CDM risk registers, residual risk processes and H&S file production.
- Familiarity with the regulatory and procedural framework used by HS2, including PCI and CDM management processes.
Desired
- Formal CDM, health & safety or risk-management training (e.g., NEBOSH Construction Certificate, IOSH, APS membership).
- Chartered or incorporated membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., ICE, IMechE, IOSH, APS).
- Experience delivering CDM duties within projects involving multiple design organisations and design-build subcontractors.
- Experience interfacing with client organisations, regulators and operating bodies during design and handover stages.
