At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative healthcare projects, transforming spaces for better patient outcomes.
- Company: Dynamic architecture firm focused on impactful healthcare design.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, 25 days leave, and collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Work on high-profile projects with industry leaders and enjoy excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of healthcare environments and make a real difference in communities.
- Qualifications: Qualified Architect with 10+ years in healthcare planning and design.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about creating healthcare spaces that genuinely improve patient outcomes, support clinical teams, and transform the way healthcare is delivered? We're looking for an experienced Healthcare Planning & Design Architect to take a leading role in the development of some of the UK's most important healthcare projects. This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy, healthcare planning, architecture, and project delivery, helping clients turn ambitious healthcare visions into practical, high‑performing environments.
If you thrive on solving complex healthcare challenges, influencing strategic decisions, and guiding projects from early feasibility through to delivery, we'd love to hear from you.
The Opportunity
This is far more than a traditional architectural role. You’ll act as a trusted advisor to healthcare organisations, working closely with clinical leaders, estates teams, and project stakeholders to define future healthcare environments. From feasibility studies and option appraisals through to concept design and design management, you’ll ensure projects are strategically aligned, clinically effective, and deliverable. You’ll also play a pivotal role in coordinating multidisciplinary design teams, ensuring that every solution balances operational efficiency, patient experience, design quality, and commercial viability.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead Healthcare Planning & Feasibility Studies
- Develop robust healthcare feasibility studies and strategic assessments
- Evaluate site opportunities, constraints, development options, and phasing strategies
- Produce option appraisals that support informed client decision‑making
- Translate healthcare strategies into practical project solutions
- Drive Healthcare Planning Excellence
- Work directly with clinicians and stakeholders to understand service requirements
- Analyse patient, staff, and operational flows
- Define departmental relationships and functional requirements
- Create planning solutions that optimise performance and future flexibility
- Develop Strategic Design Solutions
- Produce concept designs, block plans, stack diagrams, and site zoning strategies
- Lead space planning, capacity analysis, and utilisation studies
- Create environments that support efficient healthcare delivery and positive patient experiences
- Manage Design Delivery
- Act as the key interface between clients and external design consultants
- Coordinate architects, engineers, cost consultants, and specialist advisors
- Review and challenge design proposals to ensure alignment with project objectives
- Maintain continuity between strategic vision and delivered outcomes
- Provide Healthcare Design Leadership
- Ensure projects align with healthcare planning principles, NHS guidance, and best practice
- Support project progression from concept through delivery
- Champion design solutions that are clinically appropriate, operationally effective, and commercially realistic
About You
You’ll be a confident healthcare planning and design professional who combines strategic thinking with strong technical and spatial planning expertise. You’ll enjoy engaging with stakeholders at all levels, translating complex requirements into clear design solutions, and leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful outcomes.
Requirements
- Qualified Architect (RIBA Part III or equivalent)
- 10+ years' experience within healthcare architecture and planning
- Strong background in healthcare feasibility studies and option appraisals
- Extensive healthcare planning and space utilisation experience
- Experience across acute, community, and wider healthcare environments
- Proven track record in master planning and project development
- Experience managing external consultants and multidisciplinary teams
- Strong understanding of healthcare operational workflows
- Knowledge of relevant NHS healthcare planning standards, HBNs, and HTMs
Desirable
- Experience supporting NHS business case development
- Understanding of healthcare capacity planning methodologies
- Experience with modular or standardised healthcare solutions
Benefits
This role offers the chance to influence healthcare projects at their earliest and most critical stages, helping shape environments that will serve communities for decades to come. You’ll work on varied and high‑profile healthcare developments, collaborating with industry‑leading professionals and stakeholders while having genuine influence over project outcomes. For an ambitious healthcare architect looking to combine strategy, planning, design leadership, and client engagement, this represents an exceptional career opportunity.
Package
- Competitive salary £60,000 - £80,000
- Performance‑related bonus scheme
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- London‑based role
- Opportunity to work on nationally significant healthcare projects
- Collaborative and specialist healthcare‑focused environment
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're passionate about healthcare planning, strategic design, and creating environments that improve lives, we'd love to hear from you.
Healthcare Planning & Design Architect employer: UBT
As a leading employer in the healthcare architecture sector, we offer a dynamic and collaborative work environment in London, where your expertise will directly influence the design of transformative healthcare spaces. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities to engage with industry leaders and work on nationally significant projects, all while enjoying a competitive salary, performance-related bonuses, and generous annual leave. Join us to make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes and the future of healthcare delivery.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Healthcare Planning & Design Architect
✨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 UBT 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 Healthcare Planning & Design Architect
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 UBT!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to UBT. 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 UBT
✨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 UBT.