At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead bespoke residential projects, guiding design direction and mentoring the team.
- Company: Acre Design, a growing firm specialising in luxury home extensions and refurbishments.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonus, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on creativity, leadership, and client relationships.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by leading projects and shaping design outcomes.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in UK residential projects and excellent design instincts.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
You design, but don’t always influence the bigger picture. At Acre Design, you will play a leading role in shaping bespoke residential projects. You will be involved from the earliest conversations, helping define design direction, guiding clients, and supporting the team to deliver strong outcomes.
You will take ownership of key projects, while also mentoring and supporting others across the studio. This is about leading design, influencing decisions, and driving projects forward, not just working in isolation. This role is for someone who is equally creative and driven. Someone who enjoys design, but also wants more influence, more responsibility, and a bigger role in how projects and the business perform. Someone who does not just want to be an architect, but wants to help lead projects, support a team, and grow into a senior position with real impact.
ABOUT ACRE DESIGN
Acre Design specialises in bespoke and luxury home extensions and refurbishments for private clients across the North East. From first conversation through planning, technical design and construction support, we guide clients through the entire process with clarity and confidence. We are growing and building a team that can deliver exceptional work without constant oversight.
This is a senior, client-facing leadership role focused on design direction, project oversight, and team support. You will lead key projects directly, while also mentoring project leads and guiding work across the studio. You will work closely with clients, shape design outcomes, and ensure projects move forward with clarity and confidence. This role sits between design leadership, client relationship, and business performance. It is for someone ready to step up and take responsibility beyond their own projects.
- Lead design direction across multiple projects, not just your own
- Develop and test creative options, not just single solutions
- Mentor and support project leads, stepping in where needed to guide direction and resolve issues
- Run key projects independently and make clear, confident decisions
- Act as the main point of contact for clients and create a high-quality experience
- Liaise with planning officers and navigate approvals proactively
- Keep projects moving and maintain momentum across all stages
Strong experience delivering UK residential projects such as extensions or one-off homes. Excellent understanding of planning policy. A strong design instinct and ability to explore ideas, not just deliver solutions. Confidence leading projects, people, and conversations. Commercial awareness and interest in how projects and the business perform. Not a back-office role producing drawings all day. Enjoys leading both design and people. Takes ownership and drives projects forward. Builds trust and long-term relationships with clients. Balances creativity with commercial awareness. Strong pipeline of high-quality residential projects. Support from an in-house technical team with advanced Revit capability. Performance-related pay alongside a strong base salary. Genuine opportunity to grow into a senior leadership role.
HEAD OF DESIGN / SENIOR PROJECT ARCHITECT in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Acre Design
Contact Detail:
Acre Design Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HEAD OF DESIGN / SENIOR PROJECT ARCHITECT in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks at events or online. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work. When you’re chatting with potential employers, let your designs do the talking and demonstrate how you can lead projects and influence design direction.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in terms of leading design and mentoring others. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our growing team at Acre Design.
We think you need these skills to ace HEAD OF DESIGN / SENIOR PROJECT ARCHITECT in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Side: When you're writing your application, let your creativity shine through! We want to see how you approach design and problem-solving. Share examples of your past projects that highlight your unique style and innovative thinking.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Head of Design role at Acre Design. Highlight your experience with bespoke residential projects and how you've influenced design direction in previous roles. This will show us that you're the right fit for our team!
Be Confident and Clear: In your written application, be confident about your skills and experiences. Use clear language to describe how you've led projects and supported teams. We appreciate straightforward communication, so don’t hold back on showcasing your leadership abilities!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about Acre Design and what we stand for!
How to prepare for a job interview at Acre Design
✨Know Your Design Philosophy
Before the interview, take some time to reflect on your design philosophy and how it aligns with Acre Design's focus on bespoke residential projects. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've influenced design direction in past roles, showcasing your creativity and leadership.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience managing key projects and how you’ve navigated challenges. Highlight instances where you’ve taken ownership and driven projects forward, as this role requires someone who can maintain momentum and make confident decisions.
✨Demonstrate Client Relationship Building
Since this is a client-facing role, think of examples where you've built trust and long-term relationships with clients. Discuss how you ensure a high-quality experience for them, as well as how you liaise with planning officers and navigate approvals proactively.
✨Be Ready to Mentor and Lead
Acre Design values mentorship and team support, so be prepared to share your approach to guiding others. Talk about how you’ve mentored project leads in the past and how you plan to foster a collaborative environment while driving design outcomes.