Atkins are looking to appoint a Studio Lead to lead, develop and inspire our innovative architects and designers in our new Manchester studio as a part of our award winning national team. This is an exciting opportunity to establish a leading design studio and to help grow our architectural business in one of the UK’s most dynamic cities.
We are Atkins: Architecture, masterplanning, and interior design. We are an AJ top 10 UK based global design practice whose reputation is built on a culture of open collaboration, creating, and delivering excellence in all we do. Our diverse, highly skilled, passionate designers are unified with a belief – good design can positively transform people’s lives.
Our expertise ranges across all key sectors and aspects of the built environment. We are recognised leaders in the creation and delivery of environments, buildings and places that are good for people and improve our environment.
We have a particular expertise in local government, education, commercial, energy, transportation, defence and residential projects. Our architectural staff include architects, architectural technologists, interior designers, landscape architects and building surveying professionals with a balanced team mix of graduates through to senior professionals and directors. People are the heart of our success and supporting, training, and mentoring our staff is paramount to Atkins remaining at the forefront of design and innovation.
About the role:
We are looking for someone with great design abilities having been the author of a substantial portfolio of work. Below we set out the objectives and job description for the role as studio lead with a focus on the local market. You would also be responsible for the practice management around leading the Manchester studio for architecture.
The role requires an individual with direct experience of lead coordinator role, delivering projects at all stages. We are seeking creative designers as well as technically focused individuals. The ability to engage with clients and stakeholders is also required.
As an Atkins Studio Leader you will be inquisitive, confident and flexible as well as brave in making and challenging decisions which will affect our projects and teams.
You will report directly to the Regional Practice Manager and form part of our national extended leadership team, collaborating with our Practice Director and all other Studio Leaders. You will also contribute to Design and Technical Reviews and collaborate with our Market and Sector Leaders to ensure that our work is of the highest quality.
Successful candidates should be familiar with the full construction process from business development, to bidding and project delivery – including the successful commercial management of projects.
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. If applying for this role, please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
The opportunity to work both locally and within our national business to win and deliver work will require a degree of flexibility in respect of travel and location based on project demands.
Responsibilities:
- Developing a local culture of ethics and behaviours that firmly support our national practice focus on high performance, technical excellence and effective work winning.
- Day-to-day operations of the studio, including staff development and mentoring, resource management, project governance and finance.
- Working proactively within a multi- disciplinary environment to display project leadership on major opportunities and ensuring that our projects are efficiently resourced with fee earning capacity and staff productivity maximised.
- Assisting and supporting business development and work winning/bidding within the locally identified markets to align with Atkins Market and Practice business objectives.
- Developing the design culture and capability of our multi-disciplinary design team(s) by embedding our practice vision (Manifesto) and our design principles in every project within the studio.
- Contributing to the design leadership and culture within the national architectural practice.
- Successful delivery of projects to a high level of quality and client satisfaction acting as lead consultant/project leader.
- Identifying opportunities and securing work / supporting the development of winning bids for projects in our key sectors – both single discipline and multi-disciplinary.
Requirements:
- Proven track record of team / studio management.
- A creative designer with a strong understanding of technical delivery.
- An effective communicator, able to work calmly under pressure to lead, inspire and motivate our diverse multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience in preparing successful bids and tenders.
- Ability to confidently engage with Clients and Stakeholders.
- Direct experience of lead coordinator role, delivering projects at all stages.
- Strong understanding of commercial management including negotiating Scope of Services, Contract Conditions, project budget, technical specification and programme.
- A good awareness of Autodesk Revit and managing projects in a BIM environment.
- Practical working knowledge of Microsoft Office products or other similar software package.
- Practical working knowledge of SketchUp or other similar software package.
- Practical working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite or other similar software package.
Meeting your needs:
When you start with us, you’ll enjoy ‘total reward’ – a package that can be tailored to your lifestyle, career, and personal needs. From flexible holidays to life assurance, health & wellbeing benefits, and career planning for the senior stage of your career.
Making sure you’re supported is important to us. So, if you identify as having a disability, tell us ahead of your interview. And let’s talk about any adjustments you might need.
What we offer?
Atkins recognise that there are many well qualified people who are looking to further their career, but who cannot commit to full time employment. We support flexible working arrangements and are interested to discuss how we can accommodate individual requirements. As part of this commitment, we understand the need for a diverse and flexible workforce, where a work-life balance is important. So, by default Atkins offers flexible working, where there is no fixed 9 ‘till 5, no need for a 5-day week, no requirement for a full-time contract, and no requirement to spend all your working time in the office.
Rewards and Benefits:
We offer a competitive salary that is regularly tested against other consultants with a default 25-days leave each year plus bank holidays and options to buy some or sell of that leave. Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Please refer to our website for details of our full benefits package.
https://yourrewarduk.snclavalin.com/
Training:
Atkins is committed to developing its people both personally and professionally. Our colleagues have the advantage of access to a high ranging training portfolio and development activities designed to help make the best of candidate’s abilities and talents. We also actively support staff in achieving corporate membership of relevant institutions.
Additional Information:
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
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