Principal Designer

We are looking for a talented experienced Principal Designer to join our team in our London studio. This person must be a results driven, tenacious, go getter to take on managing a mixture of bespoke architectural projects whilst also delivering new business. They will be experienced in managing others and be personable and flexible enough to work with various internal delivery project team members and client contacts.

We are a progressive practice, so you will need to understand our culture and strategy, identify opportunities and be responsible for developing staff. It’s an entrepreneurial role, with lots of responsibility and the freedom to deliver results.

Purcell is an award-winning employee-owned architectural and heritage consultancy practice with a commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity. We have staff of approximately 320 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Winners of Architect Employer of the Year 2022.

Collaboration is central to our employee-ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee-owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice.

We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment. It is our distinctive employee-owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

Our benefits package includes agile, flexible and hybrid working (a minimum of 3 days in office, up to 2 days WFH), annual leave increasing with long service, life assurance, study sponsorship with paid study leave, sabbaticals, employee assistance programme, season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, virtual GP service, subscription fees, company day out, a volunteering scheme and enhanced learning & development opportunities.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Advise designated and specific Project Design Team members including client organisations on Health and Safety risk management matters, to carry out Purcell duties as Principal Designer in accordance with current UK (or where relevant) internationally comparable CDM regulations.
• Help further develop the role of CDM PD within Purcell as defined by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
• Advise designated and specific Project Design Team members including client organisations on Health and Safety risk management matters.
• Assist and provide support and advice to in-house design teams to facilitate office wide best practice standards irrespective of global location.
• Review projects and designs -- planned and ad-hoc prioritising CDM PD appointed projects and advising on any other projects to allow office wide consistency on Pre-construction Health and Safety matters and standards.
• Collate, organise, and assist the client in providing Pre-Construction Information.
• Manage and co-ordinate the Health and Safety aspects during the Pre-Construction phase.
• Prepare and issue the Health and Safety File on completion.
• Assist with compiling and developing guidance material and management tools.
• Develop and give training to in-house design disciplines.
• Carry out research on application of Health and Safety Standards (National and International) and good practice.
• Where necessary liaise with Enforcing Authorities.
• Critically appraise Design Risk Assessments submitted by Project Design Team.
• Assist with the completion of Design Risk Assessments/Registers.
• Through knowledge of and compliance with Purcell procedure and standards.
• Assist in preparing fee proposals relating to providing Principal Designer services.

Skills and Qualifications:

• 10-years’ experience working in CDM.
• CMIOSH Chartered Member of IOSH.
• Member of APS.
• Demonstrate an ability to undertake the above responsibilities.
• Demonstrate experience and understanding of design and construction management and methodologies.
• Proven skills in the delivery of CDM/H&S consultancy services.
• Legally able to work in the country in which the position is based.
• Computer Literate - Microsoft Office suite.
• Pragmatic, resourceful and persuasive.
• Able to manage and prioritise tasks and time efficiently.
• Ideally already security cleared but essential that there are no restrictions to achieving security clearance.
• Resilience to cope with conflicting demands.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - articulate and diplomatic manner.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English.
• Able to demonstrate initiative and proactive approach to daily tasks.
• Methodical, accurate and consistent attention to detail.
• Design experience, preferably architectural or engineering.
• Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Able to manage sensitive and sometimes confidential information.
• Self-motivated and able to take responsibility.
• Good interpersonal skills and able to work independently and as part of an effective Team.
• Able to build good relationships at all levels, internally and externally.
• Able and willing to travel to other studios or sites in other Purcell UK regions as required.
• Hold a degree level in an architectural, architectural technology or construction/engineering subject (Desirable).

This job description is a guide to the duties the post