Dynamic 5-10 Years Qualified Architect (RIBA and ARB registered)

Opportunity to consolidate your experience and progress to senior management while forging the direction of a dynamic, award winning architectural studio.  The full time role offers a high level of responsibility and ownership of design led, award winning and industry recognised projects from inception to completion, in a friendly studio environment.

Dynamic 5-10 Years Qualified Architect (RIBA and ARB registered)

BACKGROUND

Concept Eight are an established design led architecture and interior design practice dedicated to the creation of imaginative residential buildings.  Our work has featured in national and international press, digital publications and recognised by several awards bodies.  We are currently 14 strong and have grown steadily over the past few years.  We pride ourselves on offering varied opportunities to all staff, aiding their professional development, and remunerating them well with a combination of a competitive salary and an annual bonus. 

We operate out of our friendly design studio located in Weybridge, Surrey with our staff living in areas such as South West London, Surrey, Hampshire and Southern England.  They all enjoying the benefit of a commute against the traffic. We have excellent staff retention and make great effort to ensure the studio environment is open and friendly, with a strong social atmosphere and focus on a good work-life balance.

The practice specialises in high value single family dwelling houses and conversions, as well as small scale apartments and other development schemes. We approach all projects with a focus on design, balanced with well executed technical solutions. Our team is made up of architects, technologists and interior designers who all bring different skillsets to our projects.  This year we hope to undertake our first international project.  The studio will be focussing on this more over the next few years with an aim to undertake one off bespoke homes in the UK as well as abroad.

More information on the practice’s work is available on our website: www.concept8.co.uk.  We also have a strong Instagram presence and you can view our work @concept8architects

In order to deal with a number of high-profile new commissions, we are now looking to add to our team.  We are looking for a passionate, committed and design focussed Architect who has a thorough knowledge of all design and delivery stages of a project, Inc. feasibility, planning, technical design and on-site administration.  They should also be a strong team player working well with management as well as inspiring and mentoring more junior team members.  The individual should be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, MS Project, AutoCAD and Sketchup with a preference for a working knowledge of Revit.

We are seeking an individual who wishes to join a firm where they can grow individually as well as help the firm to thrive.  This is aimed at an individual who is seeking to hold a long-term position at a practice to help shape theirs and the company’s future

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DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The practice has a growing workload of projects both in Southern England. The ideal candidate would be someone who is keen to progress their career and take on a high level of responsibility on the day-to-day delivery of multiple projects at the same time, reporting to an Associate Architect or Director. Being a close nit group, we are seeking someone who will easily blend into our team, and be an active participant to daily office life, happily working with both senior and junior team members.

Specific current projects which the new member would be involved in include a major luxury new build house in the greenbelt, a contemporary riverside new build home, a large new build in a private estate, and the possibility of a contemporary sea facing new build in Itoshima, Japan, built for a UK resident (currently at bid stage). As such experience in residential architecture is an essential requirement ideally with private clients but as we do also take on development projects an understanding of this sector is also beneficial.

The candidate will have exposure to all RIBA stages and will be dealing directly with clients, colleagues, suppliers, statutory bodies and contractors – ensuring a broad variety of work on a daily basis. While initially reporting to a line manager, the candidate’s long-term goal should be to take ownership of an increasing number and complexity of projects to develop themselves in to a well-rounded team leader and valuable member of the studio.

Typical duties are set out below, but will vary from project to project.

Project delivery includes:

• Attending project pitches
• Initial site visits
• Concept and detail design work
• Strong design credentials utilising relevant research to promote appropriate site, budget and brief specific proposals
• Conditions surveys and historic building appraisals
• Production of presentation material
• Technical development of projects
• Delivery of production information
• Production of reports, drawings, schedules and specifications
• Submission of planning and listed building applications, including writing heritage impact assessments and design and access statements
• A broad understanding of greenbelt / ANOB site constraints and identifying planning strategies to successfully obtain consents in these areas
• Submission of building regulation applications, including coordination of technical material
• Site co-ordination and building contract administration
• Understanding of project costs and construction processes

Project management duties include:

• Strong verbal and graphical communication skills
• The ability to inspire clients and fellow professionals.
• Report to project leader / Director on progress of projects and project risks
• Monitor project costs and profitability
• Easy graphical, verbal and written communication with client and other bodies
• Planning, programming and monitoring of design work to meet deadlines
• Coordination of work produced by project team, including Consultants
• Liaise with the client, consultants, local planning authorities, and other statutory bodies and committees
• Ensure project QM, CDM / H&S files are maintained in accordance with practice standards
• Prepare agenda and minutes for project meetings and ability (where required) to chair meetings
• Management of team members assigned to your projects

General office duties include:

• Ensure office/practice standards adhered to
• Promote an environment where all team members can work to their strengths
• Identify own training needs
• Keep abreast of all regulatory development
• Attend regular team meetings
• Contribute to team successes
• Set a positive example
• Be prepared to help run general office duties
• Get actively involved on team building and socials
• Attend networking opportunities and help with forging professional relationships with external parties

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PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

This section sets out the requirements, competencies, skills and qualities that are sought:

Basic requirements

• A desire to develop themselves professionally, with ownership of projects
• ARB and RIBA registered
• Have excellent design skills and experience in bespoke high-end residential projects
• Proficient in English, both written and spoken
• Comfortable with a client facing role and acting as a representative of the company
• Present their projects confidently
• Undertake technical research relevant to projects
• Assist other team members
• Good problem-solving skills

IT and other competencies

• Ability to hand-draw and sketch to a decent standard
• Good command of CAD (Concept 8 Architects work in AutoCAD)
• Good command of office systems (Word, Excel, Project) - essential
• Good presentation skills (Photoshop & In- design desirable)
• Good modelling skills (Concept 8 Architects work in SketchUp)
• Prepared to understand and work on C8 time keeping and in house QA procedures
• Working knowledge of Revit is preferable

Professional practice skills

The candidate must be able to demonstrate competence in most if not all of the following areas:

• University level education for both RIBA Part I and Part II and Part III in UK universities essential
• Ability to carry out duties of an Architect as set out in the RIBA’s Job Book
• Excellent design skills, with the ability to explore and present thoughtful options for review and development
• Good detailing skills, with sound knowledge of building technologies, materials and how they are assembled
• Sound knowledge of technical standards, regulatory frameworks and CDM / H&S requirements
• Knowledge of sustainable design principles in practice
• Practice experience in high quality architectural or interiors detailing
• Strong On-site experience
• Good understanding of JCT Contracts and experience in utilising these
• Proficiency in AutoCAD essential Revit/BIM experience an advantage

Office requirements

• Personable, sociable and a positive member of the team
• Offer opinion and review colleagues’ work
• Present your ideas to the team for them to review your designs
• Work across teams and assist others on their projects
• Arrange relevant CPD’s and suggest technical engagement for the team
• Get involved in non-work team social and sports activities
• Office management tasks shared by all team members in the office
• Willing to attend networking events and assisting the company secure new business

Timescale

• We are actively looking to fill a position now.  We are setting a submission deadline of 30.05.21 however we encourage individuals to send their expression of interest sooner as the position may be filled before the deadline ends.