Design and Planning Architect

For architects who are done watching projects drag on for years.
You’ve spent months (sometimes years) living inside one project.
Design reviews. Endless comments from client, contractor, planning, heritage, fire…

And somewhere between Stage 3 and practical completion, the scheme you poured yourself into becomes a watered-down cousin.

Meanwhile, your salary still looks suspiciously like early-career practice pay - despite the fact you’re leading packages, answering RFI's, and quietly keeping the whole thing on track.

An award-winning workplace design & build company in central London has approached Grõ Careers with a very specific brief from the CEO:

“We want to diversify our talent by hiring architects from practice - people who understand design quality but want a new environment and better pay.”

the interiors, the drawing packages, the problem-solving with contractors...
and dropping them into a fast, focused, design-led D&B environment.

You’d join an award-winning multidisciplinary team in central London, reporting directly to the Managing Director, sitting alongside other architects, project managers and commercial leads - working on the same problems in real time.

Instead of one 2-5 year monster project, you’re working on:

Boutique projects from 5,000–25,000 sq ft to multi-floor HQs up to c. You still care about design quality.

You’ll join as a Technical Architect / Technical Designer.

Your job is to bridge the point where design intent, technical detail and buildability meet - and make sure they all line up.

Juggling 2-3 live projects (depending on scale): maybe a 10,000 sq ft Cat B fit-out in detailed design, a smaller floor on site, and a larger multi-floor scheme in early technical coordination.
Sitting with PM's and commercial leads to agree what’s realistic in the programme, where you can flex, and where you can’t.
Spending time on site with the contractor and trades - walking the job, resolving clashes, tweaking details so they can actually be built.

You’ll be client and contractor-facing, as the person who understands both the design ambition and the technical reality.

The team is currently transitioning to Revit, which has been brought in more strongly for larger and complex projects, having historically used AutoCAD.
You’ll help the team transition more of the portfolio into Revit over the coming months - your existing Revit experience will actually be used, not just listed on your CV. Don't have Revit? This is the ideal time to join and gain access to live projects.
Want more exposure to Project Management and a pathway to that position? You see how your own details hold up in reality, and you adjust your approach on the next project - quickly.
You’re already running packages, leading meetings and dealing directly with contractors.
People who perform can move quickly into senior leadership or project / commercial management-leaning positions without having to jump ship.
You’ll work alongside PM's, commercial leads and site teams every day - learning the language of risk, programme, cost from the people who live it.

You’re an Architect, Interior Architect / Designer with roughly 3-8+ years experience here in the UK.
You’ve worked on workplace or commercial fit-out - leading interior packages on complex fit-out projects. You’ve worked closely with contractors on D&B contracts.
You’re comfortable in Revit (highly desired) and AutoCAD on live projects.
You're comfortable operating on a live site, dealing directly with clients and contractors.

Start: ASAP / early 2026
Highly competitive salary + benefits, with a significant uplift vs typical practice bands for your level

We specialise in helping architects step out of traditional practice and into alternative environments: Design & Build, design management, project leadership and client-side roles.

Our approach is highly tailored, selective, hands-on, and ethics-first - we map realistic routes out of practice, sharpen your narrative, and prepare you for the commercial realities so you can land and deliver with confidence.