Executive Director for Design

Land Use; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

London allowance

Flexible working options

Job summary

Land Use is seeking an Executive Director for Design to lead our Landscape Design Team across Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester or Sheffield. You will shape strategy, drive growth, and ensure delivery of high-quality projects within a collaborative, employee-owned organisation.

This senior role reports to the Chief Executive, sits on the Management Board, and supports the broader enterprise leadership.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design or a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience delivering landscape architecture and design projects across construction and property sectors.
• Proven experience leading and developing a high-performing design team within a professional services environment.
• Demonstrable experience developing and delivering strategy with ability to translate objectives into operational delivery.
• Strong experience in business development, client engagement and winning new work in design and landscape sectors.
• Proven commercial experience including budgets, profitability, utilisation and project delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy

Business development

Budget management

Mentoring

Client engagement

Education

Degree in Landscape Architecture

Job description

Executive Director for Design Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester or Sheffield

About the role:

The Executive Director for Design leads LUC’s multi-award-winning Landscape Design Team – and holds a key executive role at LUC; which is both inwardly and outwardly facing. The role sits alongside our Technical Team and Central Team Executive Directors on LUC’s Management Board (LUC’s most senior executive committee) and operates as part of our broader enterprise leadership team.

The Executive Director for Design leads LUC’s multi-award-winning Landscape Design Team – and holds a key executive role at LUC; which is both inwardly and outwardly facing. The role sits alongside our Technical Team and Central Team Executive Directors on LUC’s Management Board (LUC’s most senior executive committee) and operates as part of our broader enterprise leadership team.

The Executive Director for Design will provide compelling and effective leadership for LUC’s Landscape Design Team, and a clear vision to enable its future success as a market-leading practice. That success will be defined by maximising the positive impact that LUC delivers, working collaboratively across LUC’s multi-disciplinary business and helping to solve the most complex land use issues of our time.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Executive Director for Design will be a full voting member of the Management Board and will also support the work of LUC’s Company Board. Together with the Management Board, they will be responsible for delivering LUC’s strategy, in alignment with its Charter and in furtherance of its Mission.

They will support the Management Board in driving the clear strategic development of the Landscape Design Team. Working alongside Management Board colleagues, they will ensure that our landscape design services are positioned and developed for ongoing and future success, while also delivering operational excellence and a strong contribution to LUC’s overall success, both financially and in relation to its broader impact.

This is a strategic appointment, playing a key role in the growth and evolution of our services, both in relation to landscape design and for LUC. The role would be suited to an individual who has tried and tested leadership capabilities and a strong track record in delivering landscape architecture across the construction and property sectors. They will deliver active and effective leadership for our team, generating sustainable growth, optimising our delivery, innovating in the face of change and responding to the challenges we face in our markets.

The role offers the opportunity to be part of an authentic and mission led, employee-owned company, with strong values and a clear focus on addressing the climate and biodiversity emergencies. It will also enable you to lead a business that is owned through our Employee Ownership Trust, which places full beneficial ownership of the company with its employees.

The role is based in LUC’s offices in Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester or Sheffield. We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.

A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Salary: £95,000 FTE (plus London allowance if applicable)

Experience and qualifications

• Educated to degree level in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design or a relevant discipline, or have a blend of knowledge and qualifications reflecting a similar level of expertise.
• Extensive experience delivering landscape architecture and design projects, including experience across the construction and property sectors.
• Proven experience of leading and developing a high-performing design team within a professional services environment.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering strategy, with the ability to translate strategic objectives into successful operational delivery.
• Strong experience of business development, client engagement and winning new work within the design and landscape sector.
• Proven commercial experience, including responsibility for budgets, profitability, utilisation and project delivery.
• Extensive experience of developing major projects through the RIBA work stages, navigating the planning system and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• A strong understanding of landscape design fee models and the commercial drivers of a professional services business.
• Demonstrable experience of providing senior-level leadership, including mentoring and line management of senior professionals.
• Strong understanding of the landscape design market, with an established network of relevant clients, partners and professional contacts.
• Experience of operating at executive or board level within a professional services, landscape architecture, architecture or related design practice.
• Experience of working across a multi-disciplinary consultancy or professional services organisation.
• Experience of contributing to wider organisational strategy and enterprise-level decision making.
• Chartered status or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Experience of working within an employee-owned or values-led organisation.
• Experience of using technology and digital approaches to innovate and improve professional services delivery.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities

Location Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester or Sheffield

Salary £95,000 FTE (plus London allowance if applicable)