Lead Principal Designer
| Posting date: | 12 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 December 2025 |
| Location: | B4 7LR |
| Company: | Kier Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 8750 |
Summary
We are looking for an experienced Engineer with design or construction experience to join our Principal Designer team based Nationwide to support a broad range of highway projects (including major projects and targeted improvement projects) and water framework contracts. Within this role, you can enjoy competitive annual holiday entitlement with opportunities to buy leave, a fantastic, matched pension scheme, a share in the success you help to create by investing in Kier through our Sharesave and Share Incentive Plans and even more
Location: Nationwide, travel to various offices & sites across the UK
Hours: 37.5 hours per week - some flexibility on hours available if desired, just let us know when you speak to us
We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.
What will you be responsible for?
As Lead Principal Designer you'll be working within our Principal Design team, supporting in providing CDM and Building Safety Act leadership on various Highway design contracts within Kier Design. It will also involve you assisting on National Highways major projects and Southern water framework contracts, there will be a need in providing guidance to scheme delivery teams on framework contracts and to work on local highways projects.
Your day to day will include:
-Maintain good relations with the client and other duty holders, attending meetings as necessary, identifying and applying appropriate methodologies and standards producing effective and innovative solutions for the schemes and studies to current standards, providing support to the Lead Principal Designer and design team(s) on implementation of CDM / BSA regulations, preparing and implementing project level CDM compliance strategies
-Point of contact for Principal Designer function, assisting in carrying out project safety reviews, ensuring the application of the principles of prevention, preparing project documentation supporting management of CDM and health and safety in design development, on National Highways major projects this will include appropriate PCF documentation
-Assisting the client in identifying and obtaining existing pre-construction information and managing its collation, reviewing information and identifying additional information required, preparing fee estimates and programmes for the activities within your responsibility. Making a positive contribution towards bids and project proposals making suggestions for new areas of work
-Maintaining close links with designers and assisting them in identifying, eliminating and reducing foreseeable risks to the health and safety of others, working closely with design teams, guiding them in safely building and maintaining designs, preparing fee estimates and programmes for the activities within your responsibility, making a positive contribution towards bids and project proposals making suggestions for new areas of work
-Accountable for own quality, safety and time frame targets for projects whilst identifying and agreeing any additional work with the Project Manager or client, as appropriate, establishing own milestones, deadlines and team objectives, delegating responsibility aiding in completing projects in a timely and cost-effective way, reviewing and improving company CDM procedures, requirements and guidance
What are we looking for?
This role of Lead Principal Designer is great for you if:
-You have a Degree level qualification in Civil Engineering, membership to relevant professional body, i.e. ICE, CIHT, with a recognised professional qualification in Health and Safety (e.g. NEBOSH National Construction Certificate)
-Chartered or as a minimum working towards chartership
-It is imperative you can drive as you will be visiting various offices and sites
Rewards and benefitsWe're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.
Diversity and inclusionMaking Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here.
We look forward to seeing your application to #joinkier
#LI-MA1
Location: Nationwide, travel to various offices & sites across the UK
Hours: 37.5 hours per week - some flexibility on hours available if desired, just let us know when you speak to us
We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.
What will you be responsible for?
As Lead Principal Designer you'll be working within our Principal Design team, supporting in providing CDM and Building Safety Act leadership on various Highway design contracts within Kier Design. It will also involve you assisting on National Highways major projects and Southern water framework contracts, there will be a need in providing guidance to scheme delivery teams on framework contracts and to work on local highways projects.
Your day to day will include:
-Maintain good relations with the client and other duty holders, attending meetings as necessary, identifying and applying appropriate methodologies and standards producing effective and innovative solutions for the schemes and studies to current standards, providing support to the Lead Principal Designer and design team(s) on implementation of CDM / BSA regulations, preparing and implementing project level CDM compliance strategies
-Point of contact for Principal Designer function, assisting in carrying out project safety reviews, ensuring the application of the principles of prevention, preparing project documentation supporting management of CDM and health and safety in design development, on National Highways major projects this will include appropriate PCF documentation
-Assisting the client in identifying and obtaining existing pre-construction information and managing its collation, reviewing information and identifying additional information required, preparing fee estimates and programmes for the activities within your responsibility. Making a positive contribution towards bids and project proposals making suggestions for new areas of work
-Maintaining close links with designers and assisting them in identifying, eliminating and reducing foreseeable risks to the health and safety of others, working closely with design teams, guiding them in safely building and maintaining designs, preparing fee estimates and programmes for the activities within your responsibility, making a positive contribution towards bids and project proposals making suggestions for new areas of work
-Accountable for own quality, safety and time frame targets for projects whilst identifying and agreeing any additional work with the Project Manager or client, as appropriate, establishing own milestones, deadlines and team objectives, delegating responsibility aiding in completing projects in a timely and cost-effective way, reviewing and improving company CDM procedures, requirements and guidance
What are we looking for?
This role of Lead Principal Designer is great for you if:
-You have a Degree level qualification in Civil Engineering, membership to relevant professional body, i.e. ICE, CIHT, with a recognised professional qualification in Health and Safety (e.g. NEBOSH National Construction Certificate)
-Chartered or as a minimum working towards chartership
-It is imperative you can drive as you will be visiting various offices and sites
Rewards and benefitsWe're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.
Diversity and inclusionMaking Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here.
We look forward to seeing your application to #joinkier
#LI-MA1
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