Senior Architect

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (min 3 days in office)

Long service leave

Life assurance

Study sponsorship

Employee assistance programme

Season ticket loans

Cycle to work

Virtual GP service

Company day out

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Purcell is looking for an exceptional Senior Architect to join our London Team to work on significant central London cultural projects. You will lead teams, drive design across all RIBA stages and coordinate with clients and consultants to deliver high‑quality outcomes.

The role requires 3–7 years PQE, experience with historic buildings, and strong technical and project‑running skills. This is a full‑time, on‑site position in London, with a collaborative, inclusive studio culture and

Qualifications

• 3–7 years post-qualification experience
• Experience delivering innovative and complex interventions in historic buildings
• Knowledge of all RIBA Stages, especially Stages 2–6
• Excellent technical design and project running skills

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage teams of architects and assistants on major cultural projects
• Ensure delivery across all RIBA stages and successful client engagement
• Oversee day‑to‑day project leadership, budgets and schedules
• Report to team leader and wider studio leadership
• Drive design quality, client satisfaction and financial outcomes
• Mentor junior staff and share knowledge within the team
• Line manage up to three people
• Foster a diverse, inclusive and collaborative culture

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Revit

AutoCAD

Tools

NBS software

Job description

Location: On site / London, UK
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Architecture | Architecture
Annual Salary range:from £ 47,000.00 to £ 57,000.00

Purcell is looking for an exceptional Senior Architect to join our London Team to work on a number of significant central London cultural projects.

This role offers the opportunity to be involved in cultural projects at all RIBA stages, working collaboratively with a broad consultant team. Candidates should hold 3-7yrs post-qualification experience, and a knowledge of delivering innovative and complex interventions in historic buildings, ideally within the cultural sector.

This is an excellent opportunity to join our talented team, and we are keen to talk to architects with excellent technical and project running skills, as well as an enthusiasm for high quality work.

You will play a key role in driving and delivering projects, liaising with clients and consultants. This position is ideal for a team player that is confident in managing multiple workstreams while delivering the highest standards of projects from inception till completion within tight timescales.

Purcell is an award‑winning employee‑owned architectural and heritage consultancy practice with a commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity. We have staff of approximately 350 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Proudly ranked No. 1 for Heritage in the World Architecture 100 for a fifth consecutive year.

Collaboration is central to our employee‑ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee‑owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice. We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment.

It is our distinctive employee‑owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

Our benefits package includes

• Agile, flexible and hybrid working, (a minimum of 3 days in office, up to 2 days WFH)
• Annual leave increasing with long service
• Life assurance
• Study sponsorship with paid study leave
• Employee assistance programme
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Virtual GP service
• Company day out
• Enhanced learning & development opportunities.

The role will involve applying technical design leadership within a project team as well as within the wider studio, working on significant cultural projects, each with broad consultant teams.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Support and assist the Associates and Partners on major cultural projects across all RIBA stages.
• Successfully lead effective teams of architects and assistants.
• Contribute to the seamless running of all architectural projects to the highest standards including the day‑to‑day management and leadership of projects (or packages within larger projects).
• Reporting to your team leader and wider studio leadership team.
• Successfully delivering positive design, client satisfaction and financial outcomes.
• Work to exceed the expectations of Clients to deliver successful projects.
• Working to continuously improve their own and their teams technical design and delivery skills, including undertaking technical reviews and upskilling technical competency within the team.
• Line management of up to three people.
• Knowledge share within the team and take a role in helping to improve the design, technical and conservation ability across it.
• Being a part of a diverse, inclusive and creative team of architectural professionals.

Qualifications, Accreditations, Memberships

Desirable: AABC, IHBC, RIBA CA / SCA or working towards

Skills, Knowledge, Experience (Expectations)

• Proven experience working on all RIBA Stages, especially Stages 2-6
• Proficiency in using Revit, AutoCAD and NBS software
• An effective and thoughtful manager of projects and people
• Project management and contract administration skills and experience is desirable
• An ability to listen and show team leadership skills
• Effectively communicate and present at all levels (internal and external)
• Excellent technical design and detailing skills
• Experience leading and contributing to the design of major projects
• Equally at home leading the creative process or contributing to the wider team
• The ability to take a strategic overview of complex design problems and devise elegant solutions
• Have a strong understanding of the UK Building and Planning regulations
• Have experience in working on existing buildings
• Conservation experience is desirable, enthusiasm for historic buildings
• Personable, confident and with a strong sense of team spirit
• Be well organised, proactive and enthusiastic approach to work and projects
• Able to receive feedback positively, even if different to own views or ideas

This job description is a guide to the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of Purcell.

Don't meet every single requirement? That's okay.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented backgrounds can be less likely to apply unless they meet every criteria listed. At Purcell, we are committed to building an inclusive, transparent, and welcoming team. If you're enthusiastic about the role and excited to grow and learn with us, we warmly encourage you to apply.

When applying, please feel free to use your preferred name - we don't require full or birth names at this stage.

We are proud to foster a culture of kindness, respect, and authenticity, where everyone can thrive and bring their whole selves to work.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback. If you have not heard from us within 6 weeks of your original application, then you have been unsuccessful. Please continue to look at our vacancies and apply where relevant. We wish you all the best in your job search.

As world leaders of Heritage and Conservation, Purcell is committed to embracing diversity and equal opportunity within our international teams, reflective of the society in which we work and live.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and celebrate differences through our culture of employee ownership.