If you’re an ambitious RIBA Part 2 / newly qualified architect in a leading practice… you already know the trade-off:
Big-name studio = brilliant projects… but you can spend years supporting, not owning.
Small studio = huge responsibility… but limited scale, structure, and progression.
What if you didn’t have to choose?
This isn’t a “traditional practice” role.
This is an opportunity to join a newly formed Residential + Urban Design team inside a growing, design-led business - with the pace and autonomy of a start-up… but backed by the infrastructure of a much larger, non-traditional group.
You’ll be put in the seat where the opportunities are.
Not just producing. Influencing. Presenting. Owning.
Led by a Head of Architecture with a pedigree spanning award-winning housing, major cultural projects, and serious urban thinking - the team is intentionally creative… and now looking to add a designer with proper London residential grounding to help shape what this division becomes.
The work
Residential, mixed-use, and urban design projects ranging from 5-500 units, with a sweet spot in design-led, higher-end 10-50 unit schemes - the kind of work where design-led architecture meets bespoke interiors.
A week could include:
* Owning a high-end multi-unit scheme (layouts, story, local context, client interface)
* Contributing to work-winning (decks, narratives, presentations, bids)
* Supporting wider masterplanning / large-scale residential thinking when needed
Initial focus is front-end design for the next 6-9 months, with a genuine route to seeing projects through to completion.
And if you perform? Within a year, you could be leading your own £10m+ scheme with director support.
Why this is different
* Real authorship - no “house style”, no rinse-and-repeat output
* Early client exposure - you’ll be in the room, not hidden behind layers
* Work-winning experience - learn how a practice grows, not just how it delivers
* Fast progression - autonomy and responsibility increase quickly if you want it
* Part 3 support - mentorship + financial support available
Who we’re looking for
You’re likely:
* An Experienced RIBA Part 2 or Recently Qualified Architect
* With London-based multi-unit residential experience (mid–high rise preferred)
* Comfortable with layouts / unit planning, and confident producing strong presentation packs
* Familiar with (or excited by) the realities of residential design: regs awareness, typical constraints, rational planning
* Entrepreneurial in mindset - you want more than being a cog in a machine
* Software: Revit desirable (but training/support available for the right person), plus SketchUp
* (AI image generation experience is a plus)
* At least 2 years of experience working in a UK/London-based practice
Package
* £30,000 - £40,000 + highly competitive bonus
* Energetic team and strong social culture
* A long list of extensive benefits (shared with successful applicants)
How to apply
Send your CV to Grõ Careers via the apply button.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to share a portfolio. Further details are shared only at the post-discovery stage.
If you’re the kind of designer who wants ownership, client exposure, and momentum - this is one of the rare roles at this level that genuinely delivers it.