Associate – Palace of Westminster

We are now looking for an Associate Architect to join us. This role combines the chance to lead projects at all stages, guide and inspire talented teams, and contribute to studio leadership and business development.

You’ll work closely with clients and consultants, helping to deliver projects of national significance, while also fostering a culture of learning, collaboration, and mutual support. If you’re seeking a rewarding role where you can make a lasting impact on both people and place, we’d love to hear from you.

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
• Sabbaticals
• Employee assistance programme
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Virtual GP service
• Subscription fees
• Company day out
• A volunteering scheme
• Enhanced learning & development opportunities.

We are keen to hear from architects with excellent design and presentation skills, a passion for high-quality work, and proven experience in working with historic and listed buildings.

As an Associate, you will balance project delivery with business development, helping to shape and deliver our long-term strategy of working successfully with the Palace of Westminster. This will include identifying and pursuing opportunities for new architectural and conservation projects and maintaining strong relationships with both existing and prospective clients.

You will also play a key role in supporting and developing our talented people, fostering collaboration, and aligning with our practice culture and strategy – our Collective Ambition. As a confident and effective communicator, you will represent Purcell in a leadership capacity with clients, stakeholders, and consultant teams.

We are looking for candidates who have the following skills:

• 10 years’ experience post qualified
• Have excellent design, technical and conservation skills and experience
• Have a strong understanding of the UK Building and Planning regulations
• Proven experience working on all RIBA stages
• Demonstrate good client-facing communication skills
• AABC or RIBA SCA/ CA accreditation desirable
• Experience with NEC4 contracts.
• Qualification or experience with NEC Supervisor role would be desirable.
• Proficiency in BIM/ Revit an advantage.
• Project management experience
• Be well organised, proactive and enthusiastic approach to work and projects
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written
• Leadership experience managing a small to medium sized studio, business or team
• Experience of taking responsibility for the financial success of projects, and strong commercial awareness
• Strong experience in business development and work winning, including bidding experience

Please email a copy of your CV and portfolio referencing job code P0060 to [email protected]. 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.