Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working globally.
At Arup you will have the opportunity to collaborate on ambitious projects - delivering remarkable outcomes for clients and communities, and to do socially useful work that has meaning.
Arup's purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set it apart for over 75 years, and now is your opportunity to join.

Job description - the role

AMS is a global workforce solutions partner committed to creating inclusive, dynamic, and future-ready workplaces. We help organisations adapt, grow, and thrive in an ever-evolving world by building, shaping, and optimising diverse talent strategies.
We partner with Arup to support their contingent recruitment processes. Acting as an extension of their recruitment teams, we connect them with skilled interim and temporary professionals, fostering workplaces where everyone can contribute and succeed.

On behalf of Arup, we are looking for a CDM Lead on a 6 month contact based in London.

As a CDM lead, you will be responsible for leading the implementation of CDM Designer duties across the programme, ensuring full compliance with the CDM Regulations 2015 and Thames Water Utilities Limited (TWUL) best practices. This is a full-time position, requiring five days of work per week, with monthly attendance at Clearwater Court in Reading. The role involves coordinating design risk management activities, developing essential safety documentation, and fostering collaboration between design teams, contractors, and stakeholders. The CDM Lead will play a pivotal role in embedding safe-by-design principles throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that health and safety considerations are integrated from the earliest stages of design.

As a CDM Lead, you will:

• Take ownership of the CDM Designer responsibilities, applying TWUL's best practices across the programme.
• Be tasked with developing Pre-Construction Information Packs and preparing the Health and Safety File in close collaboration with the Principal Contractor.
• Identify and manage design risks relevant to the scope of works and maintaining a comprehensive design risk register.
• Participate in and lead multi-disciplinary design reviews to ensure CDM compliance and will coordinate with asset owners, operations teams, contractors, and end users during early design phases.
• Facilitate design risk workshops such as HAZOPs and Design Gateway Reviews, integrate risk registers across design packages, and apply the hierarchy of risk control to drive early-stage design interventions.
• Be confident in engaging and influencing senior stakeholders on design risk matters and supporting the development and delivery of CDM and design safety training for project teams.

Ideal experience, qualifications and skills:

• Degree-qualification in a relevant construction or engineering discipline and possess a minimum of six years' experience working within the Water Sector and under CDM Regulations 2015.
• A strong understanding of CDM objectives and safe-by-design principles, along with demonstrable knowledge and application of the regulations.
• Site experience and sector-specific knowledge are essential, as is holding a professional chartership (e.g., engineer, surveyor, architect) and a NEBOSH Construction Certificate.
• Experience acting as Principal Designer on multi-disciplinary infrastructure or utilities projects and be capable of providing case studies or references that demonstrate successful coordination and risk management outcomes.
• Familiarity with BS 6164 (for tunnelling/shaft work), PAS 1192/ISO 19650 (for BIM), and Construction Leadership Council guidance is desirable, as is awareness of environmental or water industry-specific safety standards.
• Experience with infrastructure frameworks such as NEC or FIDIC, and knowledge of AMP delivery frameworks or utilities capital programmes.
• Experience using digital tools for design risk and document management (e.g., Asite, BIM 360, SharePoint), and basic BIM coordination skills.
• Membership with the Association for Project Safety (IMaPS/CMaPS), Temporary Works Coordinator or awareness training, BIM Awareness or Information Management Certification, and SMSTS or equivalent site safety management training are all highly desirable.

About the client

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. Guided by its values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Arup creates and contributes to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Arup's internal employee networks support their inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion - creating a space for everyone to express themselves and make a positive difference.
If you are interested in applying for this position and meet the criteria outlined above, please click the link to apply and speak to one of our Sourcing Specialists.
AMS are committed to providing all our candidates with the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments during the screening process and we will work with you and Arup to identify the best solution to meet your requirements.
AMS, a Recruitment Process Outsourcing Company, may in the delivery of some of its services be deemed to operate as an Employment Agency or an Employment Business.