Principal Healthcare Architect - Facility Design Specialist

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical Insurance

Annual leave

Flexible working

Professional development

Remote work with travel

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Healthcare Architect to lead the healthcare design division across South Africa. This senior, remote role requires strategic leadership, strong medical planning expertise, and regulatory compliance. Occasional travel to project sites is expected.

You will mentor multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and deliver patient-centric facilities that meet international standards using advanced technologies.

Qualifications

• Professional Architecture degree with SA licensure or eligibility.
• 10+ years designing healthcare facilities (hospitals/clinics).
• Proven leadership of major healthcare projects from concept to completion.
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD and related visualization tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and planning of healthcare facilities from concept through construction.
• Develop master plans and detailed designs for hospitals and diagnostic centers.
• Collaborate with clinicians, administrators, engineers and regulators to meet workflows and compliance.
• Ensure designs meet healthcare regulations, codes and accessibility standards.
• Guide medical equipment planning and integration of new technologies.
• Mentor multidisciplinary design teams to maintain excellence and innovation.
• Prepare design presentations and client reports for stakeholders.
• Manage scope, budget and schedule to ensure on-time delivery.
• Contribute to thought leadership in healthcare architecture through research.

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Healthcare design

Regulatory compliance

Team mentorship

Strategic thinking

Education

Professional Architecture degree

Master's in Healthcare Design

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Visualization tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly respected architectural and design consultancy, is seeking an exceptional Principal Healthcare Architect to spearhead their specialized healthcare facility design division. This senior role, based remotely but with occasional travel requirements, will involve leading the design strategy and execution for complex hospital, clinic, and specialized medical center projects across South Africa. You will be the driving force behind conceptualizing innovative, patient-centric, and technologically advanced healthcare environments that meet the highest international standards. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in healthcare architecture, a deep understanding of medical workflows, operational requirements, and regulatory compliance specific to the healthcare sector. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of healthcare infrastructure and make a profound difference in community well-being.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design and planning of state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, from initial concept through to construction completion.
• Develop master plans and detailed designs for hospitals, specialized clinics, diagnostic centers, and other medical institutions.
• Collaborate closely with healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, engineers, and regulatory bodies to understand and integrate operational needs and clinical workflows.
• Ensure designs comply with all relevant healthcare regulations, building codes, accessibility standards, and international best practices for healthcare environments.
• Provide expert guidance on medical equipment planning, space allocation, and the integration of advanced medical technologies.
• Mentor and lead multidisciplinary design teams, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Prepare compelling design presentations, reports, and visualizations for clients and stakeholders.
• Manage client relationships and project scope, ensuring successful delivery within budget and timeline constraints.
• Contribute to the firm's thought leadership in healthcare architecture through research and publication.
• Oversee the development of design documentation, specifications, and construction administration for healthcare projects.

Requirements

• Professional degree in Architecture, Master's degree preferred, with a specialization in healthcare design.
• Minimum of 10 years of dedicated experience in designing healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and research centers.
• In-depth knowledge of healthcare operational requirements, medical planning principles, and current healthcare technologies.
• Proven experience leading major healthcare architectural projects from inception to completion.
• Proficiency in architectural design software, including Revit, AutoCAD, and relevant visualization tools.
• Strong understanding of South African healthcare regulations, building codes, and standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and client management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage complex projects in a remote setting.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex functional requirements into innovative and efficient design solutions.
• Experience with sustainable design principles applied to healthcare facilities is a plus.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive executive salary package, commensurate with the seniority and specialized expertise required, plus performance-based bonuses. A comprehensive private medical insurance plan, including family coverage, is provided. We offer generous annual leave and flexible working arrangements that promote a healthy work-life balance. Significant opportunities for professional development, including international conferences, specialized training, and leadership programs, are available. This role offers the autonomy of remote work, with occasional travel to project sites and client meetings. You will be part of a respected firm with a strong reputation in healthcare design, working on impactful and transformative projects. We foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning, supported by excellent resources and technological infrastructure.