Senior Architect • Summer 2025

David Kohn Architects; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design firm in London is seeking a Senior Architect to drive the delivery of high-profile projects. The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of experience, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to carbon negative designs. The role offers a competitive salary and benefits, including a profit share bonus scheme. Successful applicants will contribute significantly to the firm's projects and ethos.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Performance-related bonus

Profit share

Workplace pension

Training opportunities

Annual office trip

Tickets to evening lectures

Friday lunches and evening drinks

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of experience in architecture with substantial project delivery.
• Experience with sustainable mixed-use projects valued at a minimum of £40m.
• Portfolio demonstrating high-quality designs and projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead project teams across all RIBA stages with a focus on collaboration.
• Advocate for carbon negative designs at all project stages.
• Build and maintain client relationships to ensure project continuity.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Presentation skills

BIM (Revit)

Tools

BIM software

Job description

Overview

• Senior Architect (4-10 years+ post Part 3, leading all RIBA stages) – Ongoing and full-time contract
• Salary: Competitive, plus benefits
• Responsible to: Director
• Location: Camden Town, North London
• Applications by: Ongoing
• Interviews: Ongoing
• Start date: Dependent on Applicant
• Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible as the position may be filled earlier

The Role

David Kohn Architects is looking to recruit a senior architect to lead high-profile projects and to drive the studio’s broader development. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated individual with the ability to lead the successful delivery of a major civic project and to become a key member of the practice, leading on the delivery of projects more widely and contributing to the direction of the business.

The Practice

David Kohn Architects was established in 2007 and has gained an international reputation for the quality of its design. We collaborate with our clients, consultant teams and end users to deliver highly tailored schemes that exceed expectations. We are currently working on major projects including new market buildings in Birmingham and the refurbishment of a major gallery in Ghent. Supporting our clients in the drive towards carbon negative futures is an important part of our current and future work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead project team, stakeholders and consultants effectively on mixed use development across all RIBA stages, with a strong emphasis on collaborative design and performing to targets
• Advocate for carbon negative futures at all stages of the project and benchmark design development against targets
• Build relationship with a key client to ensure continuity through project stages and further collaborations
• Embed and contribute to the studio’s identity and design ethos
• Work closely with directors and inspire success in others to provide the scope and deliverables within agreed resources and timeframe
• Lead and contribute to new business acquisition through bids, design competitions, industry and public engagement

Experience and Knowledge

• You will have proven experience, five to ten years or more, including delivering similar projects (sustainable mixed use including retail and public realm) in scale and complexity, of at least £40m construction value
• You have delivered low carbon / BREEAM excellent or outstanding designs
• Your experience will include UK processes and standards
• You will be commercially astute, having delivered projects within constraints such as agreed timescales, construction cost and internal resource budget
• A sensitive and rigorous approach to brief development, design and materiality supported by a portfolio of the highest quality
• Strong presentation skills with an emphasis on hand sketching
• Working with BIM (Revit)
• A knowledge of architectural history, the work of David Kohn Architects and the practice's design approach

Skills

• You will be a confident leader with excellent interpersonal skills and thrive in leadership roles
• You will be highly organized, be able to prioritise both the design team’s and your own internal team’s work to meet deadlines under pressure
• You will be able to communicate complex issues, verbally, in writing, and through drawings and models, to different audiences
• You can develop creative solutions such that the interests of different stakeholders are appropriately addressed
• You are able to hand draw ideas, plans and details confidently in design discussions
• You understand physical model-making and are able to direct the team to explore ideas efficiently

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance related bonus
• Profit share bonus scheme
• Competitive workplace pension
• Training (formal and informal)
• Annual office trip
• Tickets to evening lectures
• Friday lunches and evening drinks

How to Apply

Applications should be made through the practice’s online job board at the David Kohn Architects website and requires:

• A cover letter explaining how you meet all the criteria for the post, and why you want to work for DKA
• CV detailing previous experience and qualifications
• A portfolio of up to eight sides of A4 showing examples of relevant projects
• We will only be able to enter into correspondence with shortlisted candidates
• Direct applications, no recruitment agencies please

David Kohn Architects is an Equal Opportunities Employer.