Project Leader

As a Project Leader, you will be accountable for the direction, quality, and delivery of complex architectural projects. You will bring together creativity, technical clarity, and strategic foresight - translating vision into execution, and guiding multidisciplinary teams through every stage of the process. You lead with intent - managing risk, relationships, and resources - while keeping design excellence at the core. You mentor others, manage clients and consultants, and ensure that projects deliver on ambition, quality, and value. You help shape the studio by setting high standards, asking the right questions, and contributing to culture, systems, and strategy.

What we’re looking for:

• 8+ years’ experience post‑RIBA Part 3 qualification, or equivalent professional registration, from a recognised school of architecture
• An accomplished design leader with strong conceptual clarity and technical authority
• Proven experience leading projects from inception through delivery, setting direction and maintaining design excellence across all stages
• The ability to oversee and coordinate complex design packages with strategic oversight, ensuring consistency, quality, and buildability
• Extensive experience guiding the production of detailed construction documentation, specifications, and schedules, with responsibility for technical sign‑off
• Advanced knowledge of codes, regulations, and contract requirements
• Skill in coordinating and refining material, product, and system selections with performance and sustainability in mind
• Demonstrated ability in leading multidisciplinary consultant teams, safeguarding design intent while driving coordination and resolution
• A strong understanding of scope, programme, fees, and risk; able to balance creative ambition with commercial and contractual realities
• Ability to bring creativity and curiosity to complex problems - advancing ideas through both vision and detail
• Team players who bring curiosity, initiative, and care to their work
• People who want their work to matter - to others, and to the world around them
• A flexible and open‑minded attitude towards new ways of working
• A track record of mentoring others and contributing to a growth‑focused culture
• Confidence representing the practice externally - in meetings, presentations, and through ongoing client relationships
• Strong skills in Revit, Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and visualisation tools (V‑Ray/Enscape)
• Fluency in written and spoken English (additional languages a bonus)

Key responsibilities:

• Design and Creative Thinking: Lead design development across all phases - aligning concept, context, and client vision. Translate ideas into well‑articulated drawings, models, and presentations that drive decision‑making. Balance design quality with programme and budget - adapting and refining as projects evolve. Use visual storytelling and communication tools to engage clients, communities, and collaborators. Guide technical design decisions that preserve creative intent while meeting performance targets.
• Project Delivery and Technical Coordination: Lead the production of coordinated, high‑quality documentation across all stages. Coordinate effectively across disciplines - architecture, interiors, landscape, and external consultants. Navigate planning, accessibility, and regulatory requirements confidently. Lead construction administration, including site observations, RFIs, submittals, and close‑out activities. Apply deep technical knowledge and building system expertise to resolve challenges proactively. Ensure delivery aligns with design intent, budget, contract scope, and client expectations.
• Studio Culture and Team Contribution: Manage and support individuals and project teams - fostering collaboration and clarity. Provide clear direction, feedback, and opportunities for growth. Model a healthy and productive project culture - balancing design ambition with care for the people delivering it. Promote a studio culture of shared responsibility, inclusion, and continuous learning. Demonstrate excellent judgement in internal and external contexts. Build trusted client relationships and take an active role in business development.
• Client and Consultant Engagement: Serve as a primary point of contact - building trust through clarity, responsiveness, and confidence. Lead project meetings and communications with clients, contractors, and collaborators. Engage with clients to understand their needs, priorities, and challenges. Help generate new opportunities and contribute to repeat business.
• Business Development and Studio Representation: Lead proposals and pitches - shaping strategy, teams, and deliverables. Build and maintain strong client relationships to support repeat business and referrals. Represent the studio confidently in external forums, helping raise its profile and attract new work. Take ownership of assigned pursuits from go/no‑go through submission and debrief - leading planning, scheduling, and deliverables. Track and maintain accurate pursuit information in Pipeline (Hub), communicating updates and opportunities to studio leadership and marketing.
• Project and Commercial Management: Define and monitor project scopes, schedules, and deliverables from kick‑off to close‑out. Plan and monitor workstreams, staffing, fees, and resources - adapting as needed. Manage risk, ensure compliance, and track performance across all aspects of project delivery. Ensure QA/QC processes are applied consistently, from early design through construction.
• Digital Delivery and Process Management: Lead BIM deliverables and digital workflows in alignment with firm standards. Oversee project data, documentation, and platforms (e.g. Hub, PMTK, SharePoint, BIM360). Drive the use of digital tools to streamline collaboration, coordination, and quality. Understand and manage version control, issue sheets, revision logs, and digital archives. Leads all phases of project development with design integrity and technical confidence. Manages team coordination, design direction, and detailed delivery. Navigates risk, regulatory processes, and complex stakeholder environments. Applies deep knowledge of materials, systems, legislation, and construction methods. Develops project‑specific strategies that align with client goals and broader sustainability values. Mentors and supports others while delivering at a consistently high standard. Manages documentation, contracts, and compliance with clarity and foresight. Leads project administration, close‑out, and performance tracking. Builds client trust and supports business generation alongside project delivery. Demonstrates excellent judgement in internal and external contexts.

Tools and Technologies:

• Advanced Revit - for documentation and coordination at a leadership level
• Rhino + Grasshopper - for concept development and generative design
• Adobe Creative Suite - for design communication and presentation
• Enscape + V‑Ray - for visualisation and stakeholder engagement
• Microsoft Office - for project management and reporting
• Ladybug, Climate Studio - for performance‑led design decisions
• Hub + PMTK - for project planning, documentation, and process oversight
• 3D printing / Laser cutting - for prototyping and communication

What you’ll find here:

• A design‑led studio that puts people and planet first
• A friendly, diverse and ambitious team
• A collaborative, supportive environment where good ideas grow
• Projects with purpose, depth, and complexity
• Mentorship, progression, and space to shape your own path
• A culture that values imagination, rigour, and making things real
• Opportunities to represent the studio externally and build trusted client relationships
• A belief that good ideas come from everywhere – and that diverse voices make better work
• A strong sense of community where everyone feels they belong
• Access to a wide variety of learning, training, and development opportunities, including financial support for study and membership fees.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Perkins&Will are an equal opportunity employer and supports talent from diverse backgrounds that bring experiences, viewpoints and solutions that best serve our clients, community and enrich our work environment.