Director Quality Management

The client is looking to appoint a Director with a strong residential architectural background. The studio has a diverse residential portfolio of projects and small to large-scale schemes across London and the Home Counties. The company culture is hands-on and down-to-earth, with a flat hierarchy, fostering a highly collaborative environment.

This role is suited to an architect with a strong design focus who enjoys client-facing responsibilities and can co-lead an office of 20 architects. You may currently be at Director level in your current practice but feel you’ve hit a glass ceiling in your career progression.

The successful candidate will initially focus on front-end design, playing a pivotal role in pitches, client interactions, and fostering strong design standards within the team. Those who not only excel in design but can encourage, mentor, and elevate design quality within a team will be best suited to this opportunity. It is an ideal opportunity for an architect seeking greater responsibility in team management and the eventual leadership of a studio.

While this is not a targeted sales role, there is an expectation to bring in projects and contribute to the studio’s long-term growth. Candidates should already be actively networking, attending industry events such as MIPIM, UKREiiF, or participating in design panels or maintaining long-standing industry relationships in their practice. A business plan will be developed in collaboration with the existing director, with a key measure of success being the ability to generate new projects.

The Director will be supported by four associates, who are all project runners but are not yet work-winning architects. Responsibilities include:

• Developing a network of clients in a complementary sector to the studio.
• Analyzing and refining client briefs as part of project-team assembly.
• Leading teams through all project stages, with a focus on early RIBA stages.
• Developing compelling visual and graphic content for pitches and presentations.
• Participating in strategic decision-making alongside the director and founder.
• Creating a succession business plan in collaboration with the current director.

Experience required includes:

• Leading multiple projects through all RIBA stages, ideally in the UK.
• A creative, strategic thinker who can improve processes and project outcomes.
• Experience in business leadership, practice strategy, and team management.
• A strong, confident communicator able to articulate ideas clearly to clients, directors, and teams.
• Agility to work in fast-paced project stages.
• Previous experience working at a senior management level.
• Experience winning work, leading competitions, or developing a client network.

Collaborate closely with the founder and director to shape the practice’s future. This role offers a unique opportunity to grow within a respected, long-established firm. The office is based in Shoreditch, the team are 4/5 days in the office and have a strong team culture.