Associate architect

Critical Playground LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (3 days in office)

Private medical insurance

Life Assurance

Company Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Annual leave 25 days + bank holidays

EAP for you and family

Job summary

Useful Studio in London is seeking an Associate Architect with six or more years post-Part 3 experience. You will lead multiple projects, oversee delivery, and ensure design quality and commercial performance through the project lifecycle. Hybrid working with three days in-office per week applies.

We value low-carbon, circular design, strong client relationships, and active participation in industry networks. ARB registration and ongoing professional development are supported.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience leading architectural projects and overseeing multiple projects
• Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership and delivery through RIBA stages
• Experience relevant to workplace, education, and masterplanning projects
• Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and manage budgets

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee several architectural projects, setting delivery priorities and accountable for outcomes
• Guide briefs, concepts and design development, reviewing work and resolving complex design questions
• Embed low carbon reuse and circular design in project decisions aligning with client needs
• Manage project commercial performance including fees, scope, budgets and forecasts
• Guide project teams through briefs, delegation, design reviews and feedback
• Build trusted relationships with clients, consultants and contractors; manage expectations and priorities
• Identify opportunities for repeat and follow-on work; contribute to fee proposals with senior input
• Develop professional networks and represent Useful Studio at industry events
• Coordinate design inputs and oversee reviews and compliance checks; seek specialist advice when needed
• Improve project delivery practices and share architectural knowledge across projects

Skills

Experience leading projects

Revit BIM workflows

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Tools

Revit

BIM

Job description

Useful Studio is looking for an associate architect to join its team in London.

Location: London (hybrid working with agreement three days p/w in office)

Years of relevant experience: six plus years’ minimum post-Part 3

Salary: £55,000 – £60,000 per annum (DOE)

Hours: full‑time; 37.5h p/w

Contract type: permanent

The role overview

Useful Studio is an architectural practice B Corp and Social Enterprise. We are committed to being a force for good in the built and natural environment. Our work focuses on retrofit and new build with strong roots in circular principles and positive social outcomes. We are busy with exciting projects in education workplace and infrastructure.

We are looking for an experienced architect to join us as an Associate. You will lead and oversee several projects taking responsibility for design quality delivery and commercial performance and coordinating the people and resources needed to achieve successful outcomes.

We are keen to meet candidates who combine strong architectural judgement with the ability to guide project teams and build trusted client relationships. You will share our commitment to lean design that is efficient and circular help turn these ambitions into well‑considered deliverable schemes for buildings and infrastructure.

Responsibilities:

• lead and oversee several architectural projects setting delivery priorities and taking accountability for agreed outcomes design quality programme and project risk
• guide briefs concepts and design development reviewing work and resolving complex design questions while maintaining architectural intent through technical development and delivery
• embed low carbon reuse and circular design in project decisions balancing environmental ambition with client needs budget programme and buildability
• manage project commercial performance including fees scope budgets and forecasts – identify changes early agree additional services with clients and act on risks to project profitability within delegated authority
• guide project teams through clear briefs delegation design reviews and feedback on their work helping colleagues resolve problems and take responsibility for their contributions
• build trusted relationships with clients consultants and contractors explaining design choices managing expectations and resolving competing priorities
• identify opportunities for repeat and follow‑on work through strong project delivery and an understanding of clients’ needs – contribute to fee proposals for these opportunities and involve senior colleagues where appropriate
• develop professional networks and represent Useful Studio at relevant industry events building relationships and sharing insight that supports the practice’s work and reputation
• coordinate design inputs and oversee appropriate reviews and compliance checks seeking specialist advice and escalating significant technical safety or contractual issues
• improve project delivery practices apply lessons across projects and share architectural knowledge with colleagues to strengthen the quality and consistency of our work

Key considerations:

• substantial experience of leading architectural projects and overseeing more than one project at a time
• a strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership sound architectural judgement and successful delivery through relevant RIBA stages
• experience relevant to workplace education and masterplanning projects with an ability to adapt to different briefs and contexts
• proven experience of coordinating multidisciplinary project teams allocating resources and balancing competing delivery priorities
• strong commercial understanding including fees scope management project budgets forecasting and the financial implications of design and delivery decisions
• confidence in guiding and reviewing others’ project work providing clear direction and constructive feedback
• a commitment and skill with low carbon reuse and circular design with evidence of applying these principles to architectural decisions
• expert knowledge of UK planning Building Regulations and relevant health and safety requirements with the judgement to seek specialist advice where needed
• experience of building client relationships recognising opportunities for further work and developing professional networks
• excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain design decisions negotiate priorities and resolve complex project issues
• confidence in digital design and BIM workflows in Revit sufficient to support with production while guiding and reviewing the team’s work

Who we are

Useful Studio is an award‑winning architectural practice sitting within the Useful Simple Trust (UST) – a wider group of professional design and consultancy practices driving change in the built environment and including sister brands Expedition Engineering and Useful Projects.

We are addressing the significant issues of our time including Net Zero carbon circular economy biodiversity gain and social impact. Further to investing and growing our people as much as we do our business we are a certified Carbon Literate Organisation and are committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Diversity statement

UST strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We are working to change the lack of representation of minority groups and are particularly keen to hear from anyone with relevant skills and experience who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We encourage people from culturally diverse backgrounds women people with different abilities LGBTIQ+ community gender all age groups and those with intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics to apply. We know that diversity makes us stronger and we are committed to creating a working environment that is inclusive and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.

What we offer:

• an entrepreneurial environment; we’re open to new ideas
• supported route to ARB registration including enhanced learning and development opportunities
• flexible and hybrid working including the possibility to work a compressed nine‑day fortnight
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Service Recognition Awards
• Working Nursery Scheme
• private medical insurance for you and your family
• Annual Eyecare Plan
• Life Assurance
• Company Pension Scheme (grade dependent minimum of six per cent)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• free access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family
• thriving Trust‑wide social scene including charitable activities