Architect - Conservation Architecture - Oxford

Join to apply for the Architect - Conservation Architecture role at Donald Insall Associates. Reporting to: Senior Architect / Associate / Associate Director. Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week.

For over 65 years, Donald Insall Associates has been working with the past to unlock opportunities within the historic environment. We set the standard for what heritage can be. In our growing Oxford studio, you’ll be leading architectural projects with responsibility for quality, financial performance, and delivery. While managing project teams you’ll actively develop colleagues’ capabilities, and cultivate key client relationships. This role requires strategic thinking, strong commercial acumen, and a focus on achieving results through effective project and team management within our expert conservation practice.

We offer competitive industry-benchmarked salaries, a profit-share bonus, private healthcare, pension, holiday starting at 25 days (plus bank holidays) which increases with tenure, paid professional fees, relevant accreditations, payment of a further journal subscription, numerous annual training days, an individual CPD allowance, an internal CPD programme, and other benefits.

What you’ll be doing:

• Plan, organise, and execute accurate, high-quality, readable drawings throughout projects, primarily through own production (Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe CS).
• Produce clear, concise, and technically sound specifications, reports, and other documentation adhering to practice QA/EM systems and standards.
• Facilitate and maintain effective communication flow between office, client, consultants, contractors, and site, ensuring necessary follow-up actions.
• Apply sound knowledge of UK planning and building legislation to project work, including responsibility for preparing and submitting relevant applications/permissions.
• Contribute effectively across RIBA work stages, producing planning information, building regulations packages, working drawings, and tender packages.
• Attend site meetings, carry out site inspections, comment on work quality, and assist with contract administration duties.
• Carry out surveys accurately.
• Have awareness of the roles of Contract Administrator (CA), CDM Principal Designer (CDM PD) and Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD), under the supervision of others.
• Maintain up-to-date H&S competency such as through RIBA H&S test or CSCS card.
• Manage smaller projects or significant work packages under supervision, demonstrating ownership and ensuring technical correctness.
• Contribute to project inception, assist in maintaining project plans, and ensure projects have appropriate appointment documents.
• Identify potential project risks (time, quality, cost, technical) or slippage and recommend appropriate remedial actions to the line manager.
• Keep line manager informed of job status; provide support for efficient team running.
• Share expertise within the team, contributing actively to design dialogues and 'lessons learnt' sessions.
• Assist in pre-commission submissions and contribute positively to initiatives to win new business (e.g., design competitions).
• Act as an ambassador for the studio and the practice.

What we think you need:

• ARB Registered Architect, typically with 1-4 years post-qualification experience demonstrating growing capability.
• Demonstrable interest and developing experience in conservation, historic buildings, new design in historic contexts, and understanding the climate emergency context.
• First-rate design and technical skills; strong ability to produce and understand detailed technical packages (drawn and written).
• Good overall knowledge of traditional construction methods and materials.
• Sound working knowledge of Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, producing consistently high-quality work.
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills; ability to research and draft technically useful and concise documentation.
• Ability to operate effectively within a busy studio environment, managing concurrent deadlines and maintaining focus on quality and productivity.
• Developing strategic thinking in relation to project problem-solving.
• Strong problem-solving skills: able to think ahead, work effectively with ambiguity under guidance, and devise appropriate solutions.

Key behaviours we seek:

• Professionally Accountable & Quality-Focused.
• Technically Competent & Detail-Oriented.
• Collaborative & Client-Aware.
• Proactive Problem-Solver & Self-Starter.

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.

Seniority level: Entry level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries: Architecture and Planning