Senior Architect

Candidates should hold, as a minimum, 5 to 10 years’ experience on Hong Kong projects with A&A works. You’ll be working within our heritage and architectural team, to deliver projects across all works stages and at a variety of scales principally in the cultural, public and commercial sectors. The role requires excellent creative and technical skills across stages from feasibility studies and statutory submissions through to technical production and construction supervision. The role also requires the management of junior team members.

We are a progressive, employee-owned practice; where you will have the ability to identify opportunities and develop your career. It’s an entrepreneurial job, with lots of responsibility and the freedom to deliver results.

 

We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development. We believe in fostering a collaborative workplace, where knowledge sharing and professional growth are at the heart of everything we do.

 

The successful candidate will evidence strong creativity and presentation skills, keen attention to detail, and a deep-rooted interest in the adaptation of existing buildings, evidenced by high-quality examples of past work and experience. You will need to be able to display an enthusiastic, can-do attitude, willingness to learn, and an understanding of Purcell’s projects and culture.

 

We welcome applications from architects who understand conservation principles, but conservation accreditation is not required.

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.

You will play a key senior role in driving and delivering projects, liaising with clients and consultants. This position is ideal for a team player, confident managing multiple workstreams while applying technical design leadership within a project team as well as within the wider studio.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Support and assist the senior team on various studio projects across all HKIA work stages.
• Successfully lead effective teams of architects and assistants.
• Contribute to the seamless running of all architectural projects to the highest standards including the day-to-day project management and design coordination of projects (or packages within larger projects).
• Reporting to your team leader and wider studio leadership team.
• Successfully delivering positive design, client satisfaction and financial outcomes.
• Work to exceed the expectations of Clients to deliver successful projects.
• Working to continuously improve their own and their teams technical design and delivery skills, including undertaking technical reviews and upskilling technical competency within the team.
• Line management of up to two people.
• Knowledge share within the team and take a role in helping to improve the design, technical and conservation ability across it.

Qualifications, Accreditations, Memberships

• Essential: ARB HK, HKIA
• Desirable: HKICON, RIBA

 

Skills, Knowledge, Experience (Expectations)

We are looking for candidates who have the following:

• You are an ARB (HK) and HKIA Registered Architect with 5-10 years’ experience working as a Project Architect on Hong Kong based projects where you have been involved in the design, management and delivery of A&A works on existing buildings
• You have hands-on experience working on all HKIA work stages from inception, through feasibility, schematic and project design, contract documents and contract administration during building construction
• You possess a keen eye for detail, and can produce high-quality, accurate, coordinated drawings that effectively communicate design ideas and meet the project’s technical requirements.
• Have a strong understanding of Hong Kong development controls and building codes, as well as Government submissions and approval procedures, and can effectively apply these with design and technical packages.
• Are well organised, with a proactive and enthusiastic approach to work and projects
• Have excellent project management and design coordination skills
• Can receive feedback positively, even if different to own views or ideas
• Have leadership experience managing a small team
• Fluency in English, and Cantonese, both written and spoken
• You are proficient in industry standard software, particularly AutoCAD, Revit and other modelling and rendering software (such as Rhino, Sketchup, Enscape, D5, etc.) for preparing imagery, diagrams and reports, enabling you to efficiently produce accurate documentation and collaborate effectively with the project team.
• Have local market knowledge and desire to be actively involved in Business Development and profile-raising activities

It would also be an advantage if candidates possess:

• Previous experience working on adaptive reuse projects with A&A works
• You have an interest or strong background working on historical buildings
• Experience designing to fulfil environmental accreditation requirements

Experience of delivering projects in BIM

Please email a copy of your CV and portfolio referencing job code P0052 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.