Job Summary
Be First is a pioneering URBAN REGENERATION COMPANY wholly owned by, but operating independently from, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) Council. Our mission is to accelerate growth and capitalise on the borough’s position as London’s best investment and development opportunity.
We are a property developer, including commercial agency, construction and planning consultancy, and undertake statutory planning and building control services on behalf of the Council. We utilise council and commercial investment resources to acquire sites, secure planning permission and build out new residential and commercial developments. We deliver a socially-responsible model of urban regeneration that creates new homes and jobs for Barking and Dagenham’s current and future communities, ensuring that no-one is left behind.
This is an important position within Be First’s Consultancy Team reporting to and working closely with Design Consultancy and Head of Consultancy. You will play a central role in delivering Be First’s consultancy work for internal and external projects across design studio, management and strategy.
The role will involve working on strategic visions, masterplans and feasibility studies, ensuring high quality and ambitious urban design proposals are embedded into Be First’s and external client’s projects. As well as contributing to early stage design work, the responsibilities will include gaining experience as a Design Manager for Be First projects.
Job Salary
£35 – 38kClosing Date
September 22, 2024Job Description
The overall purpose of the role is to work within the Consultancy Team to deliver high quality architecture, urban design and placemaking that meets design guidelines and cost parameters. The role will be based at MAKE IT Barking (though Be First Consultancy Team remains largely working from home) and will involve providing design services for both Be First (LBBD) and external clients:
- Advocate the Consultancy Team’s design and quality ambitions to ensure excellent design standards and outcomes
- Work closely with the project lead to develop urban design, masterplanning and architectural designs that include site option appraisals and feasibility studies
- Contribute to the development of design led planning policies, design codes and design guidance
- Contribute to project briefs, the selection of design and architectural teams and ongoing design management to deliver to the brief and design ambitions
- Gain experience in monitoring design quality and technical compliance through the project’s delivery stages
- Contribute to the review of third party planning applications to ensure they meet the borough’s design ambition and deliver high quality design outcomes
- Support project leads to deliver research and strategies including but not limited to: MMC, Sustainability and Employer’s Requirements
- Produce graphics, branding, presentations and visual material
Person Specification
- Urban design specialist with Part 2 architectural designer or newly qualified architect
- enjoy working both in a team environment and alone
- be keen to learn and take ownership for tasks
- have strong design skills and be comfortable visualising, illustrating and presenting ideas
- enjoy solving problems
- have excellent attention to detail
- have an interest in construction and materiality
- have a passion for urban design, architecture and sustainability
- Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
- demonstrates a clear passion for public sector led housing delivery and placemaking
- good freehand sketching and excellent graphics skills
- good communication both visually and verbally, including fluent spoken and written English
- demonstrates an understanding of equality and diversity and shows experience of embedding a fair and ethical approach within a team and wider organisation
Apply for this position
In order to apply, please send your CV, cover letter and completed EDI form to hellodesign@befirst.london by 22nd September 2024. Your cover letter should outline your motivation for applying and highlight how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the skills and competencies listed in the Job Description.
