Senior Architect

Criterion Capital is a family-owned, entrepreneurial private property company with a growing portfolio across hospitality, residential, and commercial sectors. Due to continued expansion, we are seeking an experienced Senior Architect to join our Architectural and Development team. Operating as a developer, asset manager, and owner/operator, Criterion Capital delivers a growing pipeline of commercial-to-residential conversion projects across Greater London.

You will lead architectural design from early feasibility and concept through planning approval, technical design, and statutory compliance, ensuring delivery against programme, budget, and quality requirements. You will also manage and mentor junior architects, oversee design teams, and work closely with development, pre-construction, construction, asset management, and operational teams to deliver commercially viable, coordinated, and buildable design solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design from feasibility and concept through planning, technical design, statutory approvals, and construction, ensuring designs are cost-effective, compliant, and buildable.
• Produce and review architectural drawings and technical documentation using Revit and AutoCAD, ensuring design information is accurate, coordinated, and suitable for construction.
• Manage, mentor, and develop junior architects, providing technical guidance, reviewing design outputs, and ensuring work is delivered to the required standards and deadlines.
• Manage internal and external design teams, including architects, engineers, specialist consultants, and other project advisers.
• Lead design team meetings, coordinate planning submissions, and manage planning conditions and statutory approvals.
• Take responsibility for Building Regulations compliance, health and safety considerations, quality assurance procedures, statutory submissions, and relevant sustainability requirements.
• Develop and improve Employer’s Requirements and project briefs, ensuring designs meet commercial, technical, and operational objectives.
• Identify design risks, opportunities for value engineering, and optimisation initiatives to improve cost efficiency, buildability, and project performance.
• Work closely with contractors and construction teams to resolve technical challenges, review construction methodologies, and ensure design solutions are practical and deliverable on site.
• Support pre-construction and construction teams through technical queries, design validation, change control, and the resolution of design-related issues.
• Collaborate closely with development, construction, asset management, and operations teams to ensure designs support both project delivery and long-term asset performance.

About You

We are looking for a technically capable, commercially aware Senior Architect with a strong construction background, proven design leadership skills, and experience managing and mentoring junior team members. You will combine architectural expertise with practical, hands-on experience working directly with contractors and delivering projects in a construction-led environment.

Skills & Experience

• A degree in Architecture, with relevant professional qualifications and ARB registration.
• Significant post-Part III experience delivering residential, commercial, or hospitality projects, ideally within a developer, contractor, or construction-led environment.
• At least 10 years’ experience working directly with contractors, with a strong understanding of construction processes, site requirements, buildability, and project delivery.
• Proven experience managing, supervising, and mentoring junior architects or architectural team members.
• Strong knowledge of planning, Building Regulations, statutory compliance, and the RIBA Plan of Work.
• Experience delivering refurbishment, adaptive reuse, or commercial-to-residential conversion projects.
• Commercially aware, with experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and external consultants.
• A strong understanding of construction methodology, value engineering, cost control, construction sequencing, and programme management.
• The ability to review and challenge design information, identify technical risks, and resolve design and construction issues proactively.
• Excellent communication, coordination, negotiation, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, BIM, and MS Office. Experience with Asta or Procore is desirable.
• A proactive, organised, and detail-oriented approach, with the ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities, and contribute effectively as part of a team.

The Person

You will be a hands-on, solutions-focused professional who takes ownership of design outcomes and drives projects forward. You will have the confidence and technical credibility to lead and develop junior architects, challenge consultants, work effectively with contractors, and resolve complex design and construction issues.

You will understand the practical realities of construction and be able to balance design quality, cost, programme, compliance, and buildability. You will lead by example, develop the capabilities of junior team members, and take responsibility for the quality, coordination, and timely delivery of architectural work.

You will demonstrate sound commercial judgement, strong attention to detail, and the ability to build effective working relationships across the business and with external construction partners.

If you are an experienced Senior Architect with substantial contractor-facing experience, a strong construction background, and the leadership skills to manage and develop a junior team, we would welcome your application.