Senior Architect

We are looking for a Senior Architect to join our practice in London & the South East

Summary: The Role, Our Studio, Our Benefits

We are seeking architects to deliver leading conservation and heritage projects in London and the South East, working on some of the nation's most loved buildings. Qualified architects with experience of new design in historic settings are of particular interest. Conservation experience is an advantage, but not essential; we're full of expertise and we teach this in-house. What we're looking for, above all, is competent job runners with genuine interest, curiosity and creativity, and we will give you the tools you need to thrive.

London is our largest studio, with over 30 staff in the architectural team, plus our specialist Heritage Consultancy Team and business support functions being based here, and has a thriving social scene. The building has recently been refurbished, from new showers and a communal kitchen though to the individual studio spaces, meeting rooms and garden.

We offer competitive industry-benchmarked salaries, a profit share bonus, private healthcare, starting at 25 days holiday (excluding bank holidays) which increases with tenure, paid ARB and RIBA professional fees, paid conservation accreditation fees, payment of a further journal subscription, an extensive in-house conservation course, numerous annual training days, and individual CPD allowance, and other routine benefits.

Our Approach

We believe that change is continuous and that buildings are, in effect, 'alive'. Historic buildings should be constantly maintained and sensitively adapted so that they may be lastingly used and enjoyed. All of our projects are unique, but the aim is conservation, which means balancing the preservation of a building or place with the need for considered intervention to ensure its continued vitality. One cannot be delivered in isolation from the other, and we ensure a holistic approach to all our projects.

Role Overview

This post will play a key role in our London studio's continued success, not just in the London area but South East regions as well, with projects in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Kent and elsewhere being delivered from our London studio, alongside international projects. This is in addition to working on landmark buildings in central London.

As a Practice, we are interested in the person as much as your qualifications. We will match your enthusiasm and proactive approach with the necessary support to enable you to drive projects from concept to completion confidently.

We are looking for someone who, given guidance, will be comfortable liaising with clients, consultants, contractors and statutory authorities. As part of a well-supported team, the successful candidate will be allowed to take ownership of projects and to drive them to a successful conclusion collegiately. The successful candidate will be aware of their place in the broader practice and their expectation to work towards common goals to deliver our defined vision.

We encourage good communication within the office, create space for honest and transparent performance assessment, and provide the support to achieve 'best practice' where necessary.

The role will suit a focused and motivated individual with a passion for historic buildings, looking to develop further their design and job running skills in a challenging yet supportive environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Will include but shall not be limited to:

• Planning, organising and executing accurate and readable drawings throughout a project, mainly through own direct production drawings (primarily using AutoCAD, SketchUp and, increasingly, Revit) and involving input from colleagues and other specialists as We recognise the importance of BIM and are implementing BIM Level 2 on selected projects throughout the practice.
• Facilitating and maintaining the flow of communication between the office/client/consultants/contractors and site, collaborating with others and ensuring that all follow-up action is taken to ensure successful delivery of all work.
• Supporting the delivery of changing priorities throughout the RIBA workstages, maintaining a focus on time, quality of output and productivity, identifying risks or possible slippage, and recommending remedial action where necessary.
• Ensuring all job-related communications are undertaken to the required standard, including attending meetings, drafting minutes, formal communications, reports These will need to be clear and succinct and follow Insall's practice management manual and associated Quality Assurance and Environmental Management (QA/EM) systems.
• Keeping the line manager informed of the status of assigned jobs at all times, providing appropriate support for the efficient and profitable running of the team as required, and actively contributing to initiatives to win new business, which may include design competitions.
• Sharing own expertise within the team and contributing to regular design dialogues and 'lessons learnt' sessions.
• Any other reasonable duties that arise from working within a busy central London studio and the nature and character of the post.
• Attending site to comment on quality of work being undertaken
• Carrying out surveys

Tasks for Projects (in association with Team Leader):

• Assist in pre-commission submissions
• Contribute at inception and maintain a project plan for each project
• Ensure each project is set up with an appropriate appointment document
• Take responsibility for own project running
• Product planning, building regulations, working drawings and tender packages
• Carry out site inspections / contract administration
• Ensure that the work carried out is technically correct
• Responsibility for applying for all permissions relating to each project
• Review and check all health and safety matters for each project

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and the duties and responsibilities of the post may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.

Donald Insall Associates is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

All applications to be sent to

August 2025

Location

London

Reports to

Associate / Associate Director

Contract

Permanent (subject to satisfactory completion of 3 month probation period)

We have studios in London, Bath, Birmingham, Chester, Conwy, Manchester, Oxford and York.