At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative urban design projects and collaborate with a dynamic team.
- Company: Vibrant studio in Birmingham with a strong team culture.
- Benefits: Flexible work environment, on-site gym, social events, and breakfast three times a week.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and team bonding activities like football and bowling.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on city designs while enjoying a fun and supportive workplace.
- Qualifications: Degree in Urban Design and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Role - Senior Urban Designer – Residential Layout Specialist
Location – Birmingham
Salary - £50K
Our client, a well-established landscape architecture and urban design practice is looking to add a Senior Urban Designer to its team. They work across a varied range of projects throughout the UK and offer a friendly, collaborative environment with good opportunities for career development and progression.
The ideal Senior Urban Designer will have strong design skills, but just as importantly, know how to make residential layouts actually work. This means being able to balance development numbers and commercial requirements with good placemaking, streets, parking, landscape, drainage and the various technical constraints that come with a site. At Senior level, the role needs someone comfortable taking ownership of a layout, spotting what isn’t working and finding practical solutions, while still making sure the end result is well designed and deliverable.
Senior Urban Designer Essential Requirements
- Residential Design Experience
- Strong professional experience in residential urban design, masterplanning and detailed layout design, ideally gained within a consultancy, housebuilder, developer or multidisciplinary practice
- A portfolio demonstrating commercially viable, technically considered and deliverable residential layouts across a range of development sizes
- Experience taking projects from early feasibility and capacity testing through concept masterplanning, layout development and detailed residential design
- Good understanding of the priorities and commercial requirements of housebuilders, developers and land promoters
Residential Layout & Placemaking
- Strong understanding of residential layout principles including street hierarchy, blocks, plots, frontage, building lines, density, enclosure and movement
- Ability to maximise development potential while maintaining strong placemaking, landscape and urban design principles
- Good understanding of how housing mix, density, development capacity and design quality work together
- Confidence resolving detailed layout issues including parking, servicing, refuse, cycle storage, amenity space, gardens, overlooking and separation distances
- Ability to interpret site constraints and opportunities and turn them into practical, coherent and deliverable layouts
Technical & Planning Knowledge
- Good working knowledge of the UK residential planning and design process, including experience supporting planning applications.
- Practical understanding of highways, street design, parking standards, drainage, utilities and other technical considerations affecting residential layouts
- Experience coordinating input from highways, drainage, landscape, ecology, arboriculture, BNG, utilities and other technical disciplines
- Ability to identify design and technical conflicts early and work with the wider team to resolve them
- Experience producing or contributing to framework plans, parameter plans, Design and Access Statements, design codes and other planning material
Design & Software Skills
- Strong AutoCAD skills with the ability to produce accurate and well-resolved residential layouts efficiently
- Good graphical and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate ideas clearly through plans, diagrams, sketches and written material
Senior-Level Experience
- Ability to lead residential projects and take ownership of layouts from the initial brief through key planning stages
- Confident presenting and discussing design proposals with clients, local authorities, consultants and other stakeholders
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and balancing competing design, planning and technical requirements
- Ability to review junior team members' work, provide guidance and manage multiple projects, deadlines and priorities
- Good commercial awareness, including an understanding of project scope, programmes, resources and client requirements
Desirable Experience
- Degree or postgraduate qualification in Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning or a related discipline, with professional accreditation or progress towards it desirable
- Experience working with housebuilders, land promoters or residential developers, ideally including large residential developments, urban extensions or new settlements
- Experience with outline, reserved matters and full planning applications, design codes, BNG, SuDS, green infrastructure and landscape-led masterplanning
On Offer
- Competitive salary
- Hybrid working
- Strong opportunities for career progression
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Support towards professional accreditation and chartership
- Opportunity to work on large-scale and high-profile projects
- Collaborative working alongside landscape, ecology and other specialist teams
- Regular team socials, events, field trips and study visits
- Supportive and friendly studio environment
- A genuine focus on work-life balance and employee wellbeing
- Birmingham city-centre studio
The Next Step
Senior Urban Designer
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Senior Urban Designer - Birmingham employer: LEAD Careers
At Lead Careers, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration in the heart of London. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous professional development opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages innovation in landscape planning. Join us to make a meaningful impact on diverse projects while enjoying the unique advantages of working in one of the world's most vibrant cities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Urban Designer - Birmingham
✨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 LEAD Careers 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 Senior Urban Designer - Birmingham
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 LEAD Careers!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to LEAD Careers. 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 LEAD Careers
✨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 LEAD Careers.
