Studio Lead - Architecture

Conrad Consulting; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Conrad Consulting is partnered with a well-established architecture and design practice in London seeking a Studio Leader to take ownership of the studio, drive commercial performance and build a high-performing team.

This broad leadership role requires strategic planning, people leadership, client development and hands-on project delivery. The role offers a generous remuneration package aligned with experience (£80,000 - £100,000) and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within a consultancy, engineering or design-led business.
• Demonstrated track record of bringing in new work and growing client accounts profitably.
• Genuine commercial confidence – owning numbers, not just reporting on them.
• History of delivering projects on time, on budget and to a high standard.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder skills with sound judgement under pressure.
• Comfortable splitting time between leading the studio and staying close to live projects.
• Solid grip on quality assurance and risk management.
• Drive, accountability and the presence to lead a team from the front.

Responsibilities

• Own the studio's financial performance end to end, from budgeting and forecasting through to resourcing and margin.
• Drive new business, growing a healthy pipeline of opportunities and converting them into instructed work.
• Take the lead on pricing, fee negotiations and agreeing terms with new and existing clients.
• Stay actively involved in fee-earning work rather than stepping back into a purely managerial role.
• Set the bar for design and technical quality across everything the studio produces.
• Keep a close eye on project progress studio-wide, flagging and resolving issues early.
• Coach and grow the team, building a culture where people are accountable and want to perform.
• Get out and represent the business at sector events and with prospective clients.
• Take a seat at leadership level, feeding directly into wider company strategy.

Skills

Senior leadership

Business development

Client management

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Project delivery

Job description

Our partnered client is a well-established, multi-disciplinary architecture and design practice with a genuinely impressive pedigree – covering multiple sectors within the Built environment they have embedded their name within UK Architecture, operating from multiple studios across the UK, they combine the stability of a long-standing practice with the agility and ambition of a business that's actively growing its regional presence.

They're now looking for a Studio Leader to take ownership of their London studio – overseeing day-to-day operations, driving commercial performance, and building a collaborative, high-performing team.

This is a genuinely broad leadership role. You'll need to be highly organised, commercially minded and comfortable wearing several hats – strategic planning, people leadership, client development and business winning all sit within your remit, alongside staying close to live project delivery. It would suit someone who thrives on problem solving, takes initiative, and wants full accountability for a studio's success rather than just a piece of it.

The role

• Own the studio's financial performance end to end, from budgeting and forecasting through to resourcing and margin
• Drive new business, growing a healthy pipeline of opportunities and converting them into instructed work
• Take the lead on pricing, fee negotiations and agreeing terms with new and existing clients
• Stay actively involved in fee-earning work rather than stepping back into a purely managerial role
• Set the bar for design and technical quality across everything the studio produces
• Keep a close eye on project progress studio-wide, flagging and resolving issues early
• Coach and grow the team, building a culture where people are accountable and want to perform
• Get out and represent the business at sector events and with prospective clients
• Take a seat at leadership level, feeding directly into wider company strategy

What they're looking for

• Senior leadership experience gained within a consultancy, engineering or design-led business
• A demonstrable track record of bringing in new work and growing client accounts profitably
• Genuine commercial confidence – used to owning numbers, not just reporting on them
• A history of getting projects over the line on time, on budget and to a high standard
• Strong influencing and stakeholder skills, with sound judgement under pressure
• Comfortable splitting your time between leading the studio and staying close to live projects
• A solid grip on quality assurance and risk management
• Drive, accountability and the presence to lead a team from the front

The role will offer a generous remuneration package inclusive of a salary in the region of £80,000 - £100,000 Dependent on experience alongside a benefits package