Principal Designer

Principal Designer

Central London - Fit Out Contractor

££ - Negotiable

The Role

Following a series of recent project wins, an exciting opportunity has arisen with one of the UK’s largest and most respected main contractors.

They are seeking to recruit a Designer to join their team, working on a programme of banking and food retail refurbishment and fit-out projects with individual project values ranging from £100,000 to £5M.

This is a highly successful organisation delivering some of the UK’s most prestigious construction projects. With an annual turnover exceeding £2bn and a workforce of over 2,000 employees nationwide, the company has an excellent reputation within the industry.

Their portfolio spans a wide range of sectors including Banking, Food Retail, & Public Sector

This role would particularly suit a Designer looking to take the next step in their career 

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and contribute to project proposals

• Produce, negotiate, and manage project-specific designer agreements, scopes of work, and design management plans, ensuring clarity and alignment across all parties

• Ensure project designs are fully reviewed, identifying and mitigating Health & Safety risks

• Produce and manage a realistic design programme and information delivery schedule aligned with design, procurement, and construction requirements

• Lead and coordinate the on-site design team, including external design consultants

• Chair and lead design team meetings with key stakeholders

• Provide input into design team performance development reviews (PDRs)

Candidate Experience

• Experience working for a main contractor or as a Lead Architect

• Banking and/or food retail experience is desirable but not essential

• Previous roles may include Design Manager, Assistant Design Manager, Design Coordinator, Project Architect, or Junior Design Manager

• Proven experience delivering projects from inception through to completion

• Evidence of leading regulatory compliance
• Experience planning/monitoring design‑compliance strategies
• Experience issuing PD:BR declarations or working directly with Building Control
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design compliance
• Golden‑thread or gateway‑style information management responsibilities
• Demonstrate PAS 8671‑level competence

The Benefits

This is an excellent opportunity to progress your career with a leading main contractor in a stable and supportive environment. The successful candidate will benefit from:

• Long-term career progression opportunities

• A competitive salary and generous benefits package

• Access to an industry-leading training and development programme

• Flexible working, including up to two days per week working from home