Associate - WSP Architecture

WSP; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP Global Inc. in Cardiff is seeking an experienced Associate to support the growth of our Architecture and Interior Design team, with a focus on workplace and defence sectors.

You will lead design deliveries, manage budgets and programmes, mentor colleagues, and build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders to drive the commercial success of projects.

This role offers exposure to varied scales, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and opportunities to advance within a global practice.

Qualifications

• Significant professional experience within architecture and/or interior design.
• Proven track record leading projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with workplace and defence environments is a plus.
• Strong client management and commercial awareness.
• Ability to communicate technical detail graphically.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of design projects or work packages of varying scale and complexity, acting as Project/ Design Lead.
• Take responsibility for project budgets, programmes, commercial performance, risk, quality and technical standards.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring design solutions are coordinated, deliverable and meet client requirements.
• Work directly with clients and stakeholders, developing trusted relationships and providing clear professional advice.
• Contribute to business planning, work winning and recruitment as the team grows.

Skills

Architecture & interior design

Project leadership

Client management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Mentoring & team development

Education

Professional qualification/accreditation (architecture/interior design)

Tools

Revit

BIM/digital delivery

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

The role

We are looking for an experienced Associate to join and support the continued growth of our Architecture and Interior Design team at Cardiff, with a particular interest in candidates bringing workplace and/or defence sector experience.

The successful candidate could come from an architectural or interior design background. More important than a particular professional route is a strong track record of leading the design and delivery of projects, managing clients and multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to the commercial success and growth of a design business.

Working across WSP, the role will encompass projects of different scales and typologies, with a focus on workplace, defence, and commercial sectors.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Lead the delivery of design projects or work packages of varying scale and complexity, acting as Project/ Design Lead.
• Take responsibility for project budgets, programmes, commercial performance, risk, quality and technical standards.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring design solutions are coordinated, deliverable and meet client requirements.
• Work directly with clients and stakeholders, developing trusted relationships, proactively managing expectations and providing clear professional advice.
• Build internal relationships across WSP to identify opportunities and ensure Architecture and Interior Design is effectively positioned within wider multidisciplinary commissions.
• Mentor and support colleagues, helping develop design, technical and project-delivery capability across the team.
• Manage team members, setting objectives, conducting performance and development reviews and supporting career progression, while also contributing to recruitment and onboarding as the team grows.
• Contribute to business planning and work winning, with particular emphasis on the workplace and defence sectors, supporting regional growth and financial targets.
• Support bidding activity, including technical/ quality responses, fee proposals, resource planning, interviews, and client presentations.
• Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with relevant health and safety, statutory and environmental requirements.
• Help build a positive, collaborative team culture, acting as a go-to point for problem solving and achieving team and business goals.
• Champion an inclusive workplace and a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture, leading by example across the team and on projects.
  

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant professional experience within architecture and/or interior design.
• A relevant professional qualification, membership or accreditation appropriate to your discipline.
• A proven track record of leading projects and multidisciplinary teams through the concept design, technical development and delivery stages.
• Experience within areas such as workplace and/or defence environments, particularly where this has involved complex client, stakeholder, technical or security requirements.
• Sound design and/or technical capability, with an ability to translate client requirements and design intent into high-quality, coordinated and deliverable solutions.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, standards, regulations and industry best practice appropriate to your discipline.
• Proven commercial awareness, including experience of fee, programme, resource, change, and risk management.
• Client and stakeholder management skills with the expectation to represent WSP in meetings, presentations and technical discussions.
• Experience contributing to business development and bids, with the ability to identify opportunities and grow client relationships.
• Experience of line managing and developing others, with leadership skills and the ability to motivate teams.
• The ability to operate independently while working collaboratively within a wider leadership team.
• Have an ability to communicate technical detail graphically and effectively to both colleagues and client teams.
• Must be able to obtain UK vetting level of Security Check (SC)
• Experience of Revit and collaborative BIM/digital delivery environments would be advantageous.
• A proven commitment to health, safety and wellbeing.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 83,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.