Design Office Lead

Design Office Lead

Location: Perth

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Salary: Available on request

Are you an experienced Architect who thrives in a fast‑paced, hands on environment looking to make a real impact by driving design quality, team performance and project delivery?

We are supporting a long‑established construction business in the appointment of a Design Office Lead. This senior position offers the opportunity to take ownership of a busy in‑house design function delivering commercial, industrial and specialist building projects throughout mainland Scotland and the islands.

The Role:

Working within a fully integrated environment alongside estimating, procurement, fabrication and site delivery teams, you will oversee a multidisciplinary technical department responsible for producing compliant, practical and high‑quality design solutions from feasibility through to completion.

This is a key leadership role within a growing organisation, suited to an architect who enjoys working in a dynamic, practical setting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate all in‑house design activity from feasibility through planning, building warrant, roads construction consent, service connections, site handover and post‑completion support.
• Manage and mentor a team of three in‑house technicians, ensuring high standards of output, organisation and collaboration.
• Oversee external consultants including planning and warrant specialists, structural and civil engineers, ground investigation teams, drainage consultants, service providers, M&E specialists and other technical disciplines.
• Act as a member of the management team, providing regular reporting and contributing to strategic decision‑making.
• Engage directly with clients throughout the design and delivery process, ensuring clarity, professionalism and strong communication at every stage.

About You:

To be successful in the role we are looking for you to have:

• A qualification in Architecture (or design related field).
• Relevant post‑qualification experience.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing multiple live projects to tight deadlines.
• Strong IT capability, particularly with CAD and AI systems (Claude and ChatGPT) and project management tools.
• Excellent organisational, analytical and communication skills.

What We’re Looking For:

You will bring a positive, energetic and solutions‑focused approach to a senior role within a growing business. A natural leader, you’ll be confident managing a diverse technical team and coordinating a wide range of external consultants.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong communication and client‑facing skills.
• The ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• A commitment to quality, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Confidence balancing several live projects against demanding programme deadlines.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to build strong working relationships across the wider business.

What’s In It For You?

You will receive:

• Comprehensive onboarding and on the job training.
• Regular reviews and appraisals to support progression and identify development opportunities.
• Continuous professional development aligned to your role and interests.
• A supportive, approachable team committed to helping you grow your skills and confidence.

If this sounds like you, contact Sam at Pettigrew Recruitment Group today for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.

Pettigrew Recruitment Group Limited is an equal opportunities employer and acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment. Pettigrew Recruitment Group is also an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job, you accept the T&C’s, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found on our website. If you would like to discuss this opportunity or any others, why not contact us here? Or keep up to date with other opportunities on our LinkedIn page here.