Health & Safety Advisor

Greys Specialist Recruitment is supporting an established multidisciplinary construction consultancy in the appointment of a Construction Health & Safety Advisor covering the M4 Corridor.

The consultancy provides Construction Health & Safety, CDM, Principal Designer, surveying, quality-control and wider technical advisory services to developers, construction clients and project teams across the UK.

This is a client-facing consultancy role combining practical construction H&S advice, site-compliance activity and support relating to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of client appointments, undertake construction site inspections and provide competent advice to clients, designers, Principal Designers, Principal Contractors and other project stakeholders.

Although the position includes operational site-safety activity, the M4 Corridor vacancy has a greater emphasis on CDM compliance than the equivalent regional H&S position. Candidates must therefore be able to understand and apply CDM 2015 in practice, rather than simply demonstrate general awareness of the regulations.

Previous experience working as a CDM Advisor or supporting Principal Designer appointments would be particularly valuable. Candidates with strong construction H&S experience who have regularly advised clients and project teams under CDM may also be considered.

The position is home-based, with frequent travel to construction sites, client offices and project meetings throughout the M4 Corridor. Occasional wider UK travel and overnight stays may also be required.

Key responsibilities

• Represent the consultancy as a principal H&S and CDM contact for assigned clients, planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating Construction Health & Safety services across a portfolio of appointments within the agreed programme, scope and budget.
• Provide competent and practical advice on CDM 2015, explain the duties placed on clients, designers, Principal Designers, Principal Contractors and contractors, and help clients establish suitable arrangements for managing construction health and safety throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support the CDM team in reviewing project arrangements, construction information and dutyholder compliance, liaising with clients, designers, project managers, contractors and other consultants to ensure relevant H&S information is communicated effectively.
• Review, prepare, coordinate and distribute H&S information; assess Construction Phase Plans, RAMS and associated contractor documentation; and issue clear written advice or formal review reports where required. Reviews must consider the actual project risks, construction methods and site arrangements rather than simply checking that paperwork is present.
• Attend active construction sites to conduct SHE, compliance and general H&S inspections, identify unsafe conditions, practices or management arrangements, and provide clear, proportionate recommendations. High-risk matters must be raised with the client and line manager before leaving site, with an appropriate resolution agreed wherever reasonably possible, and accurate inspection reports issued within 24 hours.
• Attend and, where required, chair project, design-team and client meetings; provide clear advice on wider UK H&S legislation; undertake audits; gather and record H&S information; and monitor agreed actions through to completion.
• Support clients in developing and maintaining H&S management systems aligned with ISO 45001, including policies, procedures, risk assessments, templates, checklists and other documentation, and deliver construction H&S, CDM and client-system training when required.
• Manage multiple client appointments, site visits, meetings and reporting deadlines simultaneously; maintain accurate electronic correspondence, reports and meeting minutes to provide a complete audit trail; and attend weekly team meetings covering workload, project allocation, deadlines and commercial performance.
• Take responsibility for prompt invoicing and agreed personal and team delivery targets; liaise with accounts regarding outstanding payments; prepare fee proposals; identify work outside the existing appointment; secure purchase orders or written authority before delivering additional work; support and mentor junior colleagues; identify opportunities to provide additional services; contribute to regional growth and improvements to internal procedures, reporting tools and service delivery; and maintain current knowledge through regular CPD.

Essential experience and qualifications

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

• Previous experience as a Construction Health & Safety Advisor, Construction Safety Consultant, CDM/H&S Advisor or in a closely related position, supported by significant and recent experience within construction or the built environment and experience conducting independent H&S and compliance inspections on active sites.
• A strong practical understanding of CDM 2015, including experience applying its requirements to live construction projects, advising clients and project teams on dutyholder responsibilities, and reviewing Construction Phase Plans, risk assessments, method statements and associated contractor documentation.
• A thorough understanding of relevant UK legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
• A recognised H&S qualification, ideally the NEBOSH Construction Certificate, NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent, together with current IOSH membership at a minimum of TechIOSH level.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, sequencing, site risks and project-delivery processes; the ability to understand and interpret design and construction drawings; and the judgement to identify material risks and provide proportionate, practical recommendations.
• Strong client-facing communication skills and the confidence to advise senior stakeholders and construction professionals, supported by excellent written and report-writing ability and the capacity to handle challenging conversations calmly, professionally and diplomatically.
• Strong organisation and time management, the ability to manage multiple appointments without close supervision, commercial awareness of operating in a fee-earning consultancy, close attention to project records and audit trails, confidence using Microsoft Office and electronic or mobile reporting tools, a full and clean UK driving licence, willingness to travel throughout the M4 Corridor and occasionally elsewhere in the UK, flexibility to undertake overnight stays, and the right to live and work in the UK.

Strongly preferred CDM experience

The strongest candidates are likely to demonstrate:

• Previous experience as a CDM Advisor, CDM Consultant or Principal Designer, including supporting or delivering Principal Designer appointments and advising construction clients during both pre-construction and construction.
• Experience working with design teams to identify, eliminate or control foreseeable construction risks, supported by an understanding of Pre-Construction Information, design-risk management and Health and Safety File requirements.
• Experience assessing whether clients, designers and contractors possess suitable skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability; coordinating H&S information between project dutyholders; and working within a construction, property, CDM or multidisciplinary consultancy.

Candidates do not necessarily need to have held the formal title of Principal Designer. However, someone whose experience is limited to contractor-side site inspections, with no meaningful client-side or design-phase CDM exposure, is unlikely to be the strongest fit.

Additional desirable experience

• A NEBOSH Diploma, Level 6 H&S qualification or progression towards one; CertIOSH, CMIOSH or active progression towards Chartered status; a degree or equivalent qualification in construction, engineering, architecture or another built-environment discipline; membership of APS, CIOB, CABE, RICS, RIBA, ICE, IStructE or another relevant professional body; and a NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate or comparable fire-safety qualification.
• Experience supporting ISO 45001 management systems, developing and delivering H&S or CDM training and presentations, preparing consultancy fee proposals, managing project invoicing and mentoring junior H&S or CDM professionals.

The person

This position would suit someone who is:

• Technically credible in construction health and safety and CDM compliance, capable of moving between live-site inspections, design-team discussions and senior client meetings, and practical and proportionate rather than overly theoretical or enforcement-led.
• Confident challenging unsuitable project arrangements while maintaining productive client relationships, able to explain complex legal responsibilities in clear and usable language, capable of distinguishing meaningful CDM coordination from paperwork produced solely for compliance, calm when working with different personalities and professional disciplines, and commercially aware without compromising professional standards.
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently from home, highly organised and able to manage competing projects, meetings, reports and commercial deadlines, and interested in continuing to develop their CDM, Principal Designer and wider consultancy expertise.

Working arrangements

• The position is home-based, with regular travel throughout the M4 Corridor to construction sites, client offices, design-team meetings and other company locations. Occasional attendance at the consultancy’s head office will be required for induction, meetings or training, while wider UK travel and overnight stays may be necessary depending on project allocation.
• Contracted hours are a minimum of 40 hours per week. Start and finish times are reasonably flexible where client, project and business requirements are met, although additional hours may occasionally be necessary to meet inspection, reporting or project deadlines.

Package and benefits

• Salary of £40,000–£45,000 depending on experience, plus an annual car allowance of £4,800.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with an additional birthday day off potentially available following successful completion of probation; a non-contractual holiday buy-back scheme; and a 4% employer pension contribution following three months’ service.
• Private medical insurance following successful completion of probation, with options to extend cover to family members or add dental cover through personal contribution; a six-month probationary period; ongoing professional development within a supportive and collaborative consultancy team; and the opportunity to broaden existing CDM knowledge and develop further Principal Designer capability.

Please contact Max Painter at Greys Specialist Recruitment.