Location
London and South East

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
At WSP, you will have the opportunity to work on landmark projects, collaborate with leading experts, and contribute to meaningful work that shapes the future. We are seeking a Principal Consultant to lead the delivery of Safety Advisory services across construction projects and operational environments. This senior role covers the full asset lifecycle—from design and construction (including CDM / Principal Designer duties) through to occupied buildings focusing on workplace safety, compliance, and assurance. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, lead delivery, influence stakeholders, and ensure robust management of health and safety risks across projects and operational settings. This role requires strong technical expertise, leadership skills, and the ability to operate across multiple service lines.

Typical responsibilities include leading construction and workplace safety advisory services, ensuring compliance with CDM 2015 and UK health & safety legislation, providing strategic and practical advice, managing client relationships, driving service improvements, and delivering projects to commercial and quality expectations.

Key Responsibilities
Construction Safety (CDM / Project Lifecycle)
Lead CDM Principal Designer duties, manage design risk strategies, chair design risk workshops, provide authoritative client advice, oversee Pre-Construction Information, Risk Registers, Health and Safety Files, and influence design and delivery teams to ensure effective risk management.
Workplace & Operational Safety (Post-Occupancy)
Lead health and safety advisory services across operational estates, provide strategic advice on management systems and compliance, conduct audits and inspections, advise on risk assessments and safe systems of work, support management of FM providers and contractors, and drive improvements in safety culture.
Client Leadership & Project Delivery
Act as a key client contact, build strong relationships, lead project delivery within scope and commercial expectations, support proposal development, identify growth opportunities, and manage multiple projects.
Assurance, Governance & Continuous Improvement
Provide oversight and assurance, produce high-quality reports and recommendations, support standards and best practice development, drive consistency across teams, and contribute to knowledge sharing.
Leadership & Influence
Act as a trusted advisor, lead multidisciplinary engagement, provide technical leadership, mentor team members, and influence behaviours to improve safety outcomes and compliance.

Experience
- Significant experience in construction safety and CDM advisory, including leading Principal Designer roles
- Experience in workplace or operational health & safety, including audits, compliance, and FM environments
- Strong knowledge of CDM Regulations 2015 and wider UK health & safety legislation
- Proven ability to operate confidently across project and operational environments
- Demonstrated experience managing client relationships and project delivery
- Commercial awareness including scope, fees, and delivery performance
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

About you
You are a confident leader and trusted advisor with strong technical expertise in construction and workplace safety. You thrive in a senior role requiring multidisciplinary collaboration and have a passion for driving improved safety outcomes. You are proactive in mentoring others and influencing positive behaviours. You are commercially aware and able to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent in construction, engineering, health & safety, or related field (or HNC/HND with significant relevant experience)
- NEBOSH General or Construction Certificate (or equivalent)
- Membership of a relevant professional body (IOSH, APS or similar)
- Strong technical expertise across construction and workplace safety