Registered Architect - Residential Development

From the first look at a site to the day the keys change hands, this role shapes what we build. We're looking for a Registered Architect who wants a real say in the finished product: townhouses that feel a little different, and high-end homes that turn heads on the street. If that sounds like you, read on.

Who you'd be working with
Four Avenues is a Christchurch-based property developer with a pipeline that's growing around the country. We design and build medium-density townhouses at the affordable end and high-end homes in some of New Zealand's best suburbs. Same company, same standard, very different briefs. We buy the land, fund it, consent it, build it and sell it, so you'll be involved at every stage.

What we're aiming for
Design is where every project starts, and where we're least willing to compromise. We want our homes to be some of the best-looking residential projects around. At the top end, that means work that stands up against the best in the country. At the affordable end, it means getting the same quality of thinking into a tighter budget through proportion, planning, siting and good material choices. Anyone can make a building look great with an open chequebook. Doing it on a budget is the harder, more interesting job. We want someone who can nail both, and loves the challenge.

What the job actually looks like

• Site potential — get in early at acquisition, test yield, massing and unit mix, and tell us what a site can really carry * Bulk and location — design to the planning envelope, and know when there's a good case to push it
• Design — take projects from concept to consent documentation, set the standard and hold it through construction
• The professional team — brief and manage planners, surveyors, engineers and specialists, and keep everyone on programme
• Consenting — RC and BC strategy, lodgement, RFIs and keeping things moving with council

What we need from you

• Registered Architect (NZRAB), or equivalent overseas registration with NZ experience to match
• Solid post-registration experience in residential development, ideally across both medium-density and high-end homes
• A strong portfolio of built work, including projects you've taken from raw site to completion
• A track record of bulk and location assessments and getting the best out of a site
• Strong working knowledge of NZ building codes, planning and consenting requirements
• Experience managing planners, engineers and other consultants to keep projects on track
• Commercial nous: you can read a feasibility and you know what a design decision costs
• Highly proficient in ArchiCAD, Revit or similar software, with documentation that holds up on site and at council
• Rendering skills (e.g. Lumion, Enscape, Twinmotion or similar) to bring designs to life for marketing and sales

The kind of person this suits
You believe good design shouldn't be reserved for big budgets. You can pull apart a title, the zoning and the overlays and see what a site could be before anyone else does. You make confident design calls and back them. When a project hits a snag, you see a challenge, not a roadblock. You're just as comfortable arguing a bulk and location case with council as you are sorting out cladding details with the builder.

What we offer

• A lead design role with genuine influence over what we build
• Close collaboration with the Directors and quick decisions
• A varied pipeline: townhouses and premium standalone homes
• A seat at the table on acquisition, feasibility and strategy, not just design
• Pay that reflects your experience — we'll pay well for the right person

How to apply
Send the following to [email protected]

• Portfolio of built work (PDF, under 15mb)
• Your CV
• A quick 2–3 minute video. Tell us a bit about yourself, why this role caught your eye, and what you'd bring to the table. A phone video is perfect — we just want to meet you before we meet you.
• A brief cover letter covering:

1. A project where you made the design better without adding cost.
2. A site you looked at and advised against.
3. How you would approach a bulk and location consent where the numbers only work if the envelope is exceeded.

Applications close 31 October 2026. We'll review as they come in and may appoint early, so don't sit on it. You must have the right to work in New Zealand.

Four Avenues is an equal opportunity employer — we hire on capability and fit, and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.