Design architect

Healthcare Planning & Design Architect

Shape the Future of Healthcare Environments

London

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.