Senior Architect

Reporting to: Associate / Associate Director / Practice Director

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Role Summary:
For over 65 years, Donald Insall Associates has been working with the past to unlock opportunities within the historic environment. We set the standard for what heritage can be.

In our growing Oxford studio, you'll be leading architectural projects with responsibility for quality, financial performance, and delivery. Whilst managing project teams you'll actively develop colleagues' capabilities, and cultivate key client relationships. This role requires strategic thinking, strong commercial acumen, and a focus on achieving results through effective project and team management within our expert conservation practice.

We offer competitive industry-benchmarked salaries, a profit-share bonus, private healthcare, pension, holiday starting at 25 days (plus bank holidays) which increases with tenure, paid professional fees, relevant accreditations, payment of a further journal subscription, numerous annual training days, an individual CPD allowance, an internal CPD programme, and other benefits.

What you'll be doing:

• • Lead the planning, organisation, and execution of accurate, high-quality project information (drawings, specifications, reports) across all RIBA stages, ensuring technical correctness and compliance with practice standards (QA/EM) and relevant legislation. Utilise Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe CS expertly.
• • Independently manage the flow of communication between all project stakeholders (client, consultants, contractors, authorities, site), ensuring collaborative working and effective follow-up. Chair meetings and produce high-standard minutes/reports.
• • Take lead responsibility for project delivery, managing changing priorities, maintaining focus on time, quality, and productivity, and ensuring projects remain on target against programme and fee.
• • Lead site inspections, proactively address quality issues, and manage contract administration duties effectively.
• • Take responsibility for ensuring appropriate appointment documents are in place and manage the application process for all necessary project permissions.
• • Maintain project plans.
• • Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks (technical, financial, programme, safety), devising appropriate solutions and seeing them through.
• • Manage project profitability through careful management of time and resources, contributing to fee proposals and invoicing processes.
• • Mentor Architects and Assistants effectively, delegating tasks appropriately and supporting their professional development.
• • Actively contribute to winning new business, potentially leading contributions to design competitions or proposals.
• • Lead internal design dialogues and 'lessons learnt' sessions, sharing expertise and promoting best practice.
• • Keep senior management informed of project status and contribute strategically to efficient team/practice operation.
• • Act as a prominent ambassador for the studio and the practice.

What we think you need:

• • ARB Registered Architect with significant post-qualification experience (typically 5+ years) and varied, successful job-running experience.
• • Sound and demonstrable knowledge of all UK planning and building legislation and their practical application in complex historic contexts.
• • First-rate design and technical skills, with deep understanding and ability to lead the production of comprehensive technical packages.
• • Demonstrable passion for and expertise in conservation, historic buildings, high-quality new design in historic settings, and addressing the climate emergency.
• • Excellent knowledge of traditional construction methods and materials.
• • Expert working knowledge of Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite. Awareness and potential application of BIM Level 2 protocols.
• • Excellent oral and written communication skills; proven ability to draft technically robust, concise, and persuasive documents.
• • Proven ability to operate effectively under pressure, manage concurrent deadlines on major projects, and achieve results while maintaining focus on both the big picture and crucial details.
• • Act competently as Contract Administrator (CA), CDM Principal Designer (CDM PD) and Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD), under the supervision of others.
• • Maintains up-to-date H&S competency such as through RIBA H&S test or CSCS card
• • Demonstrable strategic thinking applied to project delivery and problem-solving.
• • Strong, demonstrable problem-solving skills: proven ability to think ahead, manage ambiguity effectively, devise appropriate solutions independently, and ensure project targets (timescales, fee, quality) are met.
• • AABC or RIBA (SCA) accreditation is expected before further career advancement into either Associate or Technical Associate roles.

Key behaviours we seek:

• • Proactive Leader & Motivator.
• • Commercially Aware & Quality Driven.
• • Excellent Communicator & Ambassador.
• • Resilient & Solutions-Focused.
• • Mentoring & Collaborative.

Equal Opportunities:
Donald Insall Associates is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.