At a Glance
- Tasks: Design residential layouts and create high-quality living spaces.
- Company: Avant Homes, a leading housebuilder with a focus on community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, company car plan, private healthcare, and more.
- Other info: Great opportunities for career growth and development.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and make a real impact in housing design.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience with AutoCAD preferred.
Competitive Salary & Discretionary Performance Bonus & Company Car Plan/Cash Allowance & Holidays (Buy, Sell and Accrual Scheme) & Company Pension & Private Healthcare & Life Assurance & Benefits.
With lots of exciting plans in the pipeline, there's never been a better time to join Avant Homes. Avant Homes is a housebuilder operating in Scotland, the North East of England, across Yorkshire and the East and West Midlands. We are continuing to strengthen our teams and are looking for passionate individuals who want to make a real contribution. Our mission is to provide affordable homes to our communities, ensuring that new homes are accessible and attainable for all with a product suitable for everyone. Avant Homes are proud to employ local people across our developments and within our regional offices; teamwork is key to everything that we do.
Due to continued success and future business growth, we have an exciting opportunity for a Group Layout Designer to join our team based at our West Yorkshire regional office in Wakefield.
The Role
Are you passionate about designing residential developments and creating high-quality places for people to live? Do you have a strong eye for design, the ability to respond creatively to site constraints and experience using AutoCAD? If the answer is yes, then look no further, your next career could be with us!
Joining our team as a Group Layout Designer you will be responsible for residential site layout design across our regional businesses. The role will contribute to a consistent, high-quality approach to residential master planning and layout design.
Key duties and requirements:
- Preparing and developing residential site layouts from initial land appraisal and feasibility through to planning and construction.
- Taking ownership of allocated projects, managing layout development, and maintaining accurate drawing and design control.
- Collaborating with Land, Planning and Technical teams to understand site constraints and develop effective design solutions.
- Producing and coordinating layouts, constraints plans, elevations, sections and other design information for approvals, planning, and construction.
- Appraising designs against planning, technical, highways and commercial requirements, identifying risks and opportunities.
- Ensuring layouts comply with planning requirements, relevant technical standards, and Group design standards.
- Maximising development efficiency and commercial value while maintaining high standards of design quality and market suitability.
- Coordinating with internal stakeholders and external consultants to ensure effective design delivery.
- Preparing high-quality masterplans, presentation layouts and consultation materials for land, planning, and stakeholder engagement.
- Contributing to the development of Group plotting standards, design procedures, templates, and best-practice guidance.
- Supporting the review and development of the Group house type portfolio to maximise the effectiveness of the approved product range.
- Providing design advice, layout reviews and constructive challenge to regional teams, promoting consistency, quality, and continuous improvement.
Who are we looking for?
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate experience in a similar role as a Layout Designer or Assistant Layout Designer level, with a strong track record of delivering work to a high standard and achieving results. Our ideal candidate will ideally possess experience within the Housebuilding sector and be fully conversant in the use of AutoCAD. We are also open to speaking with graduates and assistant level candidates looking to progress their career within the Housebuilding industry. Whether you already have experience or are looking to develop your skills and build your knowledge, we are committed to supporting the right person to grow and progress within the role.
To be considered for this role, you must also possess:
- A degree in Architecture, Architectural Technology, Urban Design, Planning or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- A good working knowledge of AutoCAD, with the ability to produce accurate, professional drawings.
- A strong understanding of the residential development process, including planning, technical coordination, and delivery.
- A good ability to interpret site constraints, planning policy, consultant information, and design guidance.
- A good understanding of residential design principles, including place-making, density, access, parking, amenity, and landscape.
- Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance design quality, planning requirements, technical constraints and development efficiency.
- Excellent organisation skills with the ability to prioritise workload and maintain attention to detail.
What will you get in return?
- Discretionary bonus
- Company car plan/cash allowance
- Buy, sell and accrual holiday scheme.
- Private Healthcare
- Company Pension
- Life Assurance
- Other Benefits including our exclusive Avant discount platform.
If this sounds like you, join us and be a part of Avant's future success!
Please note: we reserve the right to fill this vacancy and/or remove this advert prior to the vacancy end date.
Group Layout Designer in Wakefield employer: Avant Homes
Avant Homes is an exceptional employer, offering a competitive salary and a range of benefits including a discretionary performance bonus, company car plan, and private healthcare. With a strong focus on teamwork and local employment, we provide ample opportunities for career development within our ambitious growth plans, making it an exciting time to join our Sunderland office as a Quantity Surveyor.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Layout Designer in Wakefield
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from Avant Homes who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Layout Designer in Wakefield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at Avant Homes!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Avant Homes. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Avant Homes
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at Avant Homes.
