Head of Facade Engineering
Hybrid • Colchester • £70,000 to £90,000 plus benefits • Permanent
ABOUT THIS ROLE
Cahill Design Consultants has a strong reputation in Facade Engineering, and with increasing workload we are looking for a Head of Facade Engineering to lead the team’s next stage of development.
This is a leadership role for someone who combines technical excellence with a commercial mindset and a genuine interest in developing the service and the facade engineering team. You will lead the delivery of high-quality facade engineering projects, support the growth of the service, develop and strengthen client relationships and help define the future direction of the discipline.
You will work closely with your colleagues across Fire Engineering, Acoustics, Building Surveying and Building Physics, ensuring clients benefit from the integrated, multidisciplinary approach that CDC is known for.
We are not looking for someone to just to deliver projects, we are looking for an ambitious individual to take ownership, influence strategy, and play a key role in developing and growing our Facade Engineering capability.
This role offers a rare opportunity to shape the future of CDC’s Facade Engineering discipline and build a team around a growing pipeline of opportunities..
DAY TO DAY
- Leading delivery and quality assurance of facade engineering projects across all RIBA stages.
- Acting as the technical lead and subject matter expert for facade engineering within CDC.
- Developing and maintaining technical standards, procedures and quality processes.
- Providing technical guidance, mentoring and support to engineers across all career stages.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
- Supporting business development activities, proposals and bid submissions.
- Identifying opportunities to grow the facade engineering service and increase market presence.
- Supporting recruitment, workforce planning and future team development.
- Working collaboratively with CDC’s wider disciplines to deliver integrated project solutions.
- Representing CDC at industry events, networking opportunities and technical forums.
- Contributing to company strategy and helping shape the future direction of the business.
- Keeping current with facade regulations, building safety legislation and emerging industry developments.
ABOUT YOU
ESSENTIAL
- Significant experience in facade engineering consultancy.
- Proven experience delivering facade engineering projects across design and construction stages.
- Strong understanding of facade performance, compliance and regulatory requirements.
- Experience leading technical delivery and reviewing the work of others.
- Demonstrable experience managing client relationships and project teams.
- Ability to mentor, develop and support technical staff.
- Commercial awareness and an understanding of consultancy project delivery.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Relevant professional membership and actively working towards, or already holding, chartered status.
DESIRABLE
- Experience leading or developing a facade engineering team or service.
- Knowledge of EWS-1, FRAEW and cladding compliance processes.
- Experience in remediation programmes and facade inspections.
- Track record of winning work, generating opportunities or contributing to business growth.
- Experience working across multiple sectors and complex building types.
- Involvement with CWCT or other recognised industry bodies.
- Experience contributing to technical publications, training, presentations or industry thought leadership.
WHY CDC
At CDC you will have the opportunity to shape and influence a growing technical discipline within a collaborative, people-focused consultancy. We value expertise, trust and innovation, giving talented people the freedom to make a genuine impact on the projects they deliver and the business they help build.
BENEFITS
PAY & PENSION
- £70,000 to £90,000 salary.
- 5% enhanced employer pension.
- 4× salary life assurance.
- 70% income protection.
- Discretionary annual bonus.
LEAVE
- 25 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
- Christmas shutdown on top.
- Buy up to 15 extra days.
- Maximum 39 days per year.
- TOIL / paid overtime available.
HEALTH
- Monthly health and wellbeing allowance.
- 24/7 Smart Health digital GP.
- myStrength mental health app.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) from day one.
- Covers partner and children.
FAMILY
- 14 weeks’ full pay for the birth parent.
- 10 weeks’ half pay plus 15 weeks’ Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).
- 6 weeks’ full pay for all other parents.
- Gender-neutral policy.
- Adoptive and intended parents included.
DEVELOPMENT
- Professional fees paid (IFE etc.).
- Funded CPD plus annual training day.
- Chartership support and coaching.
HOW WE WORK
- 2 days per week in Colchester.
- Flexa-accredited employer.
- Hybrid working is the default, not the exception.
PRACTICAL
- Cycle to Work scheme (up to £1,000).
- Tech scheme (up to £1,000).
- Give As You Earn.
- ISO 9001 quality registered.
WELLBEING +
- Legal and financial helpline.
- Nutrition and fitness plans.
- Second medical opinion service.
- Long service leave from year 5.
- Career break / sabbatical supported.
HOW TO APPLY
01 Apply – Send your CV with a brief note on why this role appeals.
02 30-minute call – A conversation for both sides to see if this makes sense.
03 Panel interview – In-person interview at our Colchester office.
We would rather have an honest conversation early than waste anyone’s time. If the application looks like a good fit, we will be in touch to arrange the call.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Engineering and construction have a gender problem. That is not a secret. We are aware of it and we have made deliberate choices about how we hire, how we pay, and how we support people at different stages of their careers and lives.
Our enhanced parental leave policy applies equally regardless of gender or family structure, because we think that is the right thing to do, and because it is one practical way to push back against the imbalance that tends to hit hardest at the point of parenthood.
If you need any adjustments at any stage of this process, please just ask. We would rather adapt than lose a good person to an avoidable barrier.