Social Housing Architect—Designing Affordable, Community Homes

Placements24; Willows (CA); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive rate

Social impact experience

Diverse and impactful projects

Exposure to innovative housing design

Supportive team environment

Contract extension potential

Experience in social housing sector

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Community Housing Development Architect to lead affordable housing design in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. You will shape low-cost, sustainable homes through participatory processes with residents, NGOs, and government partners.

Join a mission-driven team that values social impact and practical, buildable designs. The role emphasizes community engagement, regulatory familiarity, and delivering replicable housing models for future projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Architecture or equivalent required.
• At least 5 years in social or affordable housing projects.
• Experience with participatory design and community engagement.
• Familiarity with SA National Building Regulations and housing policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design process for community housing projects focusing on affordability and sustainability.
• Engage directly with community members to understand needs and aspirations.
• Develop design proposals including layouts and materials for low-income housing contexts.
• Collaborate with engineers, quantity surveyors, and construction teams to ensure feasibility.
• Oversee construction phase, provide site support and ensure design intent.
• Work within government housing subsidies and policies to maximize impact.
• Prepare documentation for planning applications and approvals.

Skills

Communication

Participatory design

Social housing

Architectural design

Community engagement

Education

Bachelor of Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Community Housing Development Architect to lead affordable housing design in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. You will shape low-cost, sustainable homes through participatory processes with residents, NGOs, and government partners.

Join a mission-driven team that values social impact and practical, buildable designs. The role emphasizes community engagement, regulatory familiarity, and delivering replicable housing models for future projects.