Group Design Director

We are seeking an ambitious Design Director to step up and lead the architectural and design function across all regional operations for a privately owned, fast-growing UK housebuilder. With all design work managed in-house and a strong emphasis on architectural continuity, this is a rare opportunity to shape the future of residential design at scale and ensuring consistent quality across a diverse portfolio of residential developments, managing a large in house team.

The ideal candidate will have a robust track record in residential development. They will bring at least 10 years of senior architectural leadership experience within a volume housebuilding or large-scale development environment. A deep technical understanding of UK housing design, planning policy, and modern construction methods is essential, along with demonstrable success in managing multi-site portfolios and leading cross-functional teams. This individual will possess exceptional communication skills, and will operate with commercial acumen and a pragmatic, solution-focused mindset to balance design integrity with deliverability and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the architectural vision and design standards across the group, ensuring consistency, innovation, and adherence to best practice in residential architecture.
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of masterplans, layout designs, and house type portfolios for use across multiple regions.
• Collaborate with Planning, Technical, Land and Commercial teams to guide developments from initial concept through to planning submission and build.
• Ensure design compliance with evolving building regulations, sustainability requirements, and customer expectations.
• Drive standardisation where appropriate while allowing flexibility for regional adaptation and planning nuances.
• Mentor and manage a team of in-house architects and technicians, as well as coordinate with external consultants as required.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, housing policy, and urban design principles.
• Represent the business in senior-level planning and design meetings.

Ref: 3810IG