Senior Housing Development Architect

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 800,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Remote working arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Impactful housing projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Housing Development Architect to lead design and delivery of large-scale residential projects across South Africa. The role supports affordable to mid-to-high-end housing with remote work flexibility, requiring strong leadership and critical stakeholder engagement.

You will guide teams through feasibility, concept design, documentation, and on-site supervision, ensuring regulatory compliance, density strategies, and sustainable development practices.

Qualifications

• Must be SACAP registered.
• 8+ years post-graduate experience in architectural practice.
• Strong residential and housing development experience.
• Proven leadership of design and development for large housing projects.
• Understanding of urban planning related to residential density.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, and BIM.
• Knowledge of SA housing policies and regulations.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work remotely with a distributed team.
• Portfolio of successful housing developments required.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and development of housing projects (affordable, social, private).
• Develop housing typologies and master plans.
• Manage lifecycle from feasibility to detailed documentation and site supervision.
• Coordinate with engineers, planners, contractors and consultants.
• Ensure designs comply with housing codes, zoning and sustainability standards.
• Engage with authorities, communities and partners for approvals.
• Oversee design documentation, specifications and packages.
• Mentor junior staff and development team members.
• Stay updated on trends in housing design and construction tech.
• Contribute to site analysis, risk assessment and value engineering.

Skills

Leadership

Project leadership

Communication

Negotiation

BIM proficiency

Education

SACAP registration

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

SketchUp

BIM

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a forward-thinking development company focused on creating innovative and sustainable housing solutions across South Africa. We are looking for a dedicated Senior Housing Development Architect to join their team, with the flexibility to work remotely. This role is central to the design and successful execution of large-scale residential projects, from affordable housing initiatives to mid-to-high-end developments. You will be responsible for leading design teams, ensuring architectural quality, managing stakeholder engagement, and driving projects from concept through to on-site implementation. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of housing typologies, density strategies, construction processes, and the regulatory landscape governing residential development. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute significantly to shaping communities and delivering much-needed housing, working remotely but impacting projects nationally.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design and development of diverse housing projects, including affordable, social, and private housing schemes.
• Develop innovative and contextually appropriate housing typologies and master plans.
• Manage project lifecycles from feasibility studies and concept design through to detailed documentation and site supervision.
• Coordinate effectively with engineers, urban planners, contractors, and other consultants.
• Ensure designs comply with national housing codes, zoning regulations, and sustainability standards.
• Engage with local authorities, communities, and development partners to facilitate project approvals and buy-in.
• Oversee the preparation of design documentation, specifications, and construction packages.
• Mentor and guide junior architectural staff and development team members.
• Stay current with trends in housing design, construction technologies, and sustainable development practices.
• Contribute to site analysis, risk assessment, and value engineering efforts.

Requirements

• Professional registration as an Architect with SACAP.
• A minimum of 8 years of post-graduate experience in architectural practice, with a strong specialization in residential and housing development.
• Proven experience leading the design and development of significant housing projects or estates.
• Strong understanding of urban planning principles related to residential density and community design.
• Proficiency in architectural design software (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp) and BIM technologies.
• Knowledge of South African housing policies, financing models (e.g., FLISP), and building regulations.
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote team environment.
• A portfolio showcasing a range of successful housing developments is required.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, performance bonuses, and a flexible remote working arrangement. You will benefit from a supportive team culture, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to work on projects that have a tangible social impact. This role offers significant autonomy and the ability to influence the direction of housing development projects from anywhere, contributing to the creation of well-designed and sustainable communities across South Africa.