Senior Conservation Architect

Purcell group; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading architectural firm based in London seeks a talented Senior Conservation Architect. The candidate will engage in the conservation and creative reuse of iconic buildings, showing proven conservation skills and strong attention to detail. This role encompasses various RIBA stages, requiring collaboration with heritage consultants and project management skills. The firm offers a supportive environment and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working

Annual leave increasing with long service

Life assurance

Study sponsorship

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years' experience in a UK based practice.
• Experience with conservation projects across all RIBA stages.
• Strong understanding of UK Building and Planning regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical conservation design within major project teams.
• Conduct condition surveys and manage team members.
• Deliver high-quality reports and presentations to clients.

Skills

Conservation design skills

Attention to detail

Project management

Excellent communication

Leadership experience

Education

ARB Part 3 qualified

Accredited Conservation Architect (RIBA CA/SCA and/or AABC)

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

NBS

Job description

At Purcell's London Studio, we are looking for a talented and passionate Senior Conservation Architect to join our team working on the conservation and creative reuse of iconic and historically significant buildings in the UK.

Current projects in the team include the Royal Observatory Greenwich, The Royal Ballet and Opera, and the Bank of England. We are keen to talk to architects with excellent conservation and design skills as well as an enthusiasm for work of the utmost quality.

You’ll be working within our architectural team in the London studio and collaborating closely with our heritage consultants, to deliver conservation projects across all RIBA stages and at a variety of scales in the cultural and public sectors. The role will involve condition surveys, conservation design, planning and listed building consent applications, technical design, construction supervision, and the management of team members.

The successful candidate will evidence strong conservation skills, keen attention to detail, and a deep-rooted interest in existing and historic buildings, evidenced by high-quality examples of past work and experience.

Purcell is an award-winning employee-owned architectural and heritage consultancy practice with a commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity.

We have staff of approximately 300 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Winners of Architect Employer of the Year 2022.

Collaboration is central to our employee-ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee-owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice. We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment.

It is our distinctive employee-owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

Our benefits package includes

• Agile, flexible and hybrid working, (a minimum of 3 days in office, up to 2 days WFH)
• Annual leave increasing with long service
• Life assurance
• Study sponsorship with paid study leave
• Employee assistance programme
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Virtual GP service
• Company day out
• Enhanced learning & development opportunities.

The role

The role will involve applying technical conservation design leadership within a major project team as well as within the wider studio, working on significant cultural and public sector projects with broad consultant teams.

Candidates are required to demonstrate the following skills:

• ARB Part 3 qualified with a minimum 6 years’ experience working as a Project Architect for a UK based practice
• Experience working on conservation projects across all RIBA Stages
• Ability to deliver high quality conservation design
• Ability to produce and deliver well-communicating reports and presentations to clients and stakeholders
• A strong understanding of the UK Building and Planning regulations
• Effective project management and contract administration
• Software proficiency in AutoCAD and NBS
• Well organised, proactive and enthusiastic in approach to work and projects
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written
• Leadership experience line managing multiple individuals
• Accredited Conservation Architect (RIBA CA/SCA and/or AABC)
• Software proficiency in Revit

How to apply

Please email a copy of your CV and portfolio referencing job [e-mail] . Please include details of your Right to Work in the United Kingdom, as well as an available start date.

This job description is a guide to the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of Purcell.

Don’t meet every single requirement? That’s okay.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented backgrounds can be less likely to apply unless they meet every criteria listed. At Purcell, we are committed to building an inclusive, transparent, and welcoming team. If you’re enthusiastic about the role and excited to grow and learn with us, we warmly encourage you to apply.

When applying, please feel free to use your preferred name — we don’t require full or birth names at this stage.

We are proud to foster a culture of kindness, respect, and authenticity, where everyone can thrive and bring their whole selves to work.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback. If you have not heard from us within 6 weeks of your original application, then you have been unsuccessful. Please continue to look at our vacancies and apply where relevant. We wish you all the best in your job search.

As world leaders of heritage and conservation, Purcell is committed to embracing diversity and equal opportunity within our international teams, reflective of the society in which we work and live.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and celebrate differences through our culture of employee ownership.