Building Safety Consultant

OVERVIEW
The Building Safety and Building Regulations team in our London office is a growing specialist discipline within Ridge, established in response to the Building Safety Act 2022 and ongoing reform of the Building Regulations regime. 

The team provides strategic, tactical and project-level advice across a wide range of sectors, including residential, commercial, healthcare, education, science, industrial and data centres. Our services include delivery of the Building Regulations Principal Designer role, advisory support to all duty holders, gateway processes, regulatory compliance reviews, design-stage advisory services and technical reporting.

The role of Building Safety Consultant is to contribute to the delivery of Building Safety Act and Building Regulations services across multiple projects, working closely with senior colleagues and multidisciplinary design teams. The focus is on ensuring compliance is actively embedded within design, managed in a structured way and evidenced in a manner that is clear, proportionate and defensible.

This is a delivery-facing role suited to individuals who understand how projects are developed in practice and are comfortable working within live design environments. It is particularly relevant to those from architecture, architectural technology, building surveying or design management backgrounds who are used to coordinating information, navigating design complexity and working under programme pressure. A solid understanding of the Building Regulations is also needed

You will be involved in live project delivery across the design and construction process, supporting coordination, compliance tracking, gateway preparation and the management of regulatory risk. The role provides a clear pathway into developing deeper technical judgement and a more influential position within the Building Safety and regulatory environment.

ROLE DESCRIPTION
A Building Safety Consultant delivering defined elements of Building Safety Act and Building Regulations services across a portfolio of projects, operating within Ridge’s governance and assurance arrangements and with support appropriate to project complexity and risk.

The role includes supporting Building Regulations advisory services and the Building Regulations Principal Designer function, working with clients and design teams throughout the project lifecycle. A key focus is ensuring that compliance considerations are integrated into coordinated design information, rather than addressed retrospectively.

You will be embedded within project teams, contributing to design-stage coordination, participating in meetings, reviewing information and helping to drive the resolution of compliance-related issues. The role requires a practical understanding of how projects operate, how design develops under programme and commercial pressure, and how regulatory matters influence delivery if not addressed in a timely and coordinated way.

This is not a standalone technical authority role. However, it is not an administrative support function. You will take ownership of defined tasks, engage directly with design teams, identify issues that require attention and contribute to structured, consistent and defensible delivery.
The role may also include supporting internal procedures, technical documentation, reporting and selective input into bids and proposals where appropriate.

1.    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
You will contribute to the delivery of Building Safety Act and Building Regulations services across live projects, working within design teams to ensure compliance is considered, coordinated and progressed as part of design development.

The role involves engaging with how information is produced and managed, ensuring key issues are identified early, decisions are clear, and compliance is demonstrable. You will support the progression of matters through the team, recognising when to escalate and when to resolve through coordination.
In practice, this includes:
•    Coordinating design inputs to support Building Regulations compliance and BRPD processes
•    Participating in client, design team and technical coordination meetings
•    Reviewing design information to identify coordination gaps and compliance risks
•    Tracking decisions, actions and evidence to maintain clear, auditable records
You will work closely with architectural, structural, fire and MEP disciplines, building an understanding of how design intent, coordination and compliance interact.
You will also support structured aspects of delivery, including:
•    Gateway processes and preparation of submission information
•    Clear reporting through meeting notes and compliance summaries
•    Maintaining organised, auditable project records
Alongside project work, you will contribute to improving internal processes and work collaboratively with other Ridge disciplines to support coordinated and defensible outcomes.

2.    REQUIREMENTS
2.1.    ESSENTIAL
The role requires a solid grounding in the built environment, combined with the ability to operate effectively within a live project setting. You should be comfortable working with design information, engaging with multidisciplinary teams and contributing to coordinated delivery, rather than working in isolation.

You will typically demonstrate:
•    A degree, or equivalent, in a construction-related discipline such as architecture, architectural technology, building surveying or engineering
•    Experience working within a design, coordination or multidisciplinary environment
•    A working knowledge of the Building Regulations and how they apply during project delivery
•    An awareness of the Building Safety Act and its implications for projects

Alongside this, you will be able to:
•    Understand and interpret design information as it develops through project stages
•    Participate confidently in design team and coordination meetings
•    Manage tasks, information and priorities within a structured environment
•    Communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally, with colleagues, clients and design teams

The role also requires a structured and reliable approach, supported by:
•    Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
•    Confidence in engaging with others and contributing to team-based delivery
•    Competence with Microsoft Office and standard collaboration tools
•    A commitment to ongoing professional development and learning

2.2.    DESIRABLE
While not essential, the following will strengthen your ability to contribute effectively and progress within the role:
•    Experience supporting technical design development or coordination at RIBA Stages 3–5
•    Exposure to compliance-led design review or regulatory processes
•    Experience working on complex or multidisciplinary projects where coordination is key

In addition, the following would be beneficial:
•    Familiarity with gateway processes or structured information management approaches
•    Membership of, or progress towards, a relevant professional body such as CIAT, RICS, CIOB or CABE
•    Exposure to the Building Regulations Principal Designer role or similar coordination-focused responsibilities

These attributes are not prerequisites but will support more effective contribution and faster progression within the role.

3.    RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
You will take ownership of defined elements of project delivery, ensuring that your work is completed to a consistent and reliable standard. The role requires accountability for the quality, accuracy and organisation of your outputs, alongside an understanding of how your contribution supports wider project outcomes.

Your responsibilities will include:
•    Delivering assigned tasks or work packages to an agreed standard and within programme
•    Ensuring the accuracy, clarity and consistency of your own outputs
•    Contributing to efficient and commercially aware project delivery through structured working and effective use of time

You will also play a supporting role within the wider team, including:
•    Assisting senior colleagues in coordinating compliance processes and maintaining clear, defensible project records
•    Maintaining professional and constructive relationships with clients, collaborators and internal teams

As your experience develops, you will be expected to demonstrate progression in:
•    Technical understanding of Building Regulations and Building Safety requirements
•    Professional judgement in how issues are identified, managed and escalated
•    Confidence and capability in contributing to project delivery and coordination

Overall, the role requires a dependable and proactive approach, with a clear sense of responsibility for your work and its impact on project quality, compliance and delivery.
 
THE INDIVIDUAL
3.1.    Technical and Professional Expertise
You will bring a practical, working understanding of Building Regulations and how regulatory risk emerges within live projects. Rather than relying purely on theory, you should be comfortable applying your knowledge in a delivery context, interpreting design information and understanding how different disciplines interface.

You will demonstrate:
•    A developing but practical understanding of Building Regulations and regulatory risk
•    The ability to interpret design information and identify key interfaces relevant to compliance
•    An understanding of how coordination, process and timely escalation influence project outcomes

You will also take a proactive approach to your own development, showing a willingness to build technical knowledge and deepen your understanding of Building Safety through experience.

3.2.    What You Deliver
You will contribute to projects through consistent, reliable and well-structured outputs that support coordination and compliance. Your work will help ensure that information is clear, traceable and aligned with project and regulatory requirements.

This includes:
•    Clear, accurate and well-organised project records and documentation
•    Consistent support to design coordination and compliance activities
•    A dependable contribution to project delivery and the management of regulatory risk

3.3.    How You Deliver
You will work as part of a wider team, contributing in a collaborative and structured way. The role requires clear communication, professionalism and the ability to balance detail with practicality in a live project environment.
You will:
•    Work collaboratively and constructively with design teams and colleagues
•    Communicate clearly, confidently and professionally
•    Take a structured and organised approach to managing your work

At the same time, you will show an ability to:
•    Balance detail with proportionality, avoiding unnecessary complexity
•    Recognise the importance of consistency, accuracy and accountability in all aspects of delivery

Overall, you will bring a dependable, team-focused approach, with the ability to contribute effectively while continuing to develop your capability and judgement.