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Job Salary

£78,000 - £84,000 + benefits, pension and 30 days annual leave entitlement

Closing Date

March 17, 2025

Job Description

We are looking for an Associate Director (Design Lead) to support our growing Consultancy team. The individual will:
•  Lead a consistent approach to all Design Team work areas, including design management and technical assurance, urban design studio, planning and strategy;
•  Influence and ensure quality and sustainability ambitions through partnership delivery;
•  Liaise with internal colleagues, public and private partners, external stakeholders, consultants and contractors to take decisions, providing a single point of contact for relevant design clarifications, technical reviews and recommendations;
•  Lead on design management processes through partnership working and align technical reviews to project programmes and internal QA measures;
•  Ensure design changes are captured and assist in project costing and value management;
•  Manage the design review offer for Statutory Planning Service;
•  Proactively respond to policy and regulatory changes that cross disciplines and ensure representation at internal working groups, e.g. Building Safety Act and Sustainability
•  Collaborate on pitches for new business, ultimately winning new and/ or repeat work;
•  Contribute to thought leadership including representing Be First at events which contribute to business development;
•  Manage and report on Design Team Finance and Resourcing to the Head of Consultancy to meet financial targets and;
•  Contribute to the development of the Consultancy Team Vision and Objectives.

Person Specification

We are looking for an individual with the following skills:
• Engaging and driven personality wanting to join a highly successful and ambitious team.
• Results-orientated and devises strategies that are simple and effective;
• Ability to cut through the noise and get to the nub of an issue with commercial acumen, to ensure problems are resolved, competing objectives balanced, and projects delivered efficiently;
• Confident and professional, with excellent communication skills that adapt to different audiences;
• Proactive self-starter who takes the initiative and can prioritise and show great dexterity adapting to changing requirements;
• Strong ability to get the best out of people with the ability to inspire and motivate;
• Demonstrable experience of:

  • Leadership and management;
  • Public and private sector working at a senior level (Joint Ventures);
  • Relevant design expertise;
  • Ensuring quality through public-public and public-private partnership delivery;

• Understands:

  • RIBA scheme of works design process and the outputs required
  • BIM
  • CDM and Building Safety Act regulations
  • UK construction best practice
  • Relevant policy, legislation and guidance
  • Supply chain opportunities and limitations including cost and viability

• IT literate

Apply for this position

In order to apply, please submit a CV, portfolio and a covering letter outlining your motivation for applying and highlighting how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role.

lauren.tipple@befirst.london