Conrad Consulting is delighted to be partnering with a highly respected, employee-owned architectural practice in Sheffield as they look to appoint an experienced, job-running Senior Architect.
Established for over 30 years, this successful practice has built an enviable reputation for delivering high-quality architectural services to an impressive portfolio of longstanding commercial clients.
With a close-knit team of 22 professionals and exceptionally low staff turnover, this is a business where people genuinely enjoy working, feel valued and tend to stay for the long term.
The practice operates predominantly within the commercial sector, with a proportion of its workload coming from the banking industry, including an extensive and longstanding relationship with a major blue-chip client and its wider property portfolio.
Projects typically involve commercial refurbishments, office fit-outs, workplace improvements and the adaptation of existing buildings, often with multiple schemes progressing simultaneously.
The Opportunity
We are looking for an accomplished Senior Architect who is comfortable taking ownership of projects, leading their design and technical delivery, and acting as a key point of contact for clients, consultants and contractors.
This is very much a hands-on, job-running position, ideally suited to an Architect who enjoys the practicalities of project delivery and taking responsibility for seeing schemes through from initial brief to completion.
You will be trusted to manage your own workload, make decisions and deliver projects with a high degree of autonomy, supported by an experienced and approachable leadership team.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Taking responsibility for the design, coordination and delivery of multiple commercial refurbishment and fit-out projects.
- Leading projects through the relevant RIBA stages, from initial design development through to construction and completion.
- Producing and overseeing architectural drawings, specifications, technical packages and construction information.
- Acting as a principal point of contact for clients, building strong relationships and ensuring their requirements are understood and delivered.
- Coordinating external consultants, contractors and wider project teams to ensure successful project outcomes.
- Managing project programmes, deliverables and competing deadlines across several live schemes.
- Attending client meetings, site inspections and progress reviews, resolving design and technical queries as required.
- Ensuring projects comply with relevant UK Building Regulations, statutory requirements and technical standards.
- Taking a proactive role in maintaining the practice's reputation for delivering a consistently high standard of service.
About You
The practice is particularly interested in speaking with experienced, ARB-registered Architects who have developed strong job-running capabilities within commercial environments.
Experience across office refurbishments, workplace fit-outs, retail or similar fast-paced commercial projects would be highly relevant.
You will ideally demonstrate:
- ARB registration and significant post-qualification experience within UK architectural practice.
- A proven ability to independently manage and deliver architectural projects through multiple RIBA stages.
- Strong design and technical capabilities, with an excellent understanding of construction detailing and building refurbishment.
- Proficiency in Revit software.
- Experience within commercial fit-out, office refurbishment, retail or banking environments.
- Excellent communication, client-facing and relationship-management skills.
- The organisational ability to juggle multiple projects, priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
- Confidence coordinating consultants and contractors and managing the wider project delivery process.
- A proactive, commercially aware and solutions-focused approach.
- The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a small, established team.
Above all, our client is looking for a dependable, personable and technically capable Architect who can confidently take ownership of projects and maintain the excellent relationships the practice has developed with its clients.
Why Join?
This is where the opportunity becomes particularly compelling.
Unlike many architectural practices, the business is employee-owned, meaning its people share directly in its commercial success.
Alongside a competitive salary, employees benefit from quarterly profit-sharing distributions, providing a meaningful and consistent additional financial reward.
The wider benefits include:
- Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 depending on experience.
- Quarterly profit share: Typically worth approximately £3,000 – £5,000 per annum, subject to business performance.
- Hybrid working: Just two days per week required in the Sheffield office, with the remaining three available from home.
- Employee ownership: Be part of a business where employees have a genuine stake in its success.
- Outstanding staff retention: Join an established team where people choose to build long-term careers.
- Consistent project pipeline: Longstanding relationships with major commercial clients.
- Autonomy and trust: A mature working environment without unnecessary micromanagement.
- Friendly, close-knit culture: A stable team of 22 people with an excellent reputation and unusually low staff turnover.
A Different Kind of Architectural Practice
For an experienced Senior Architect who enjoys taking responsibility, building client relationships and seeing projects successfully delivered, this represents an excellent opportunity.
There is no expectation to be permanently chained to a desk, no unnecessary corporate hierarchy and no need to sacrifice work-life balance to progress your career.
Instead, you'll join a financially established, employee-owned practice that rewards its people, trusts their judgement and has created an environment where staff genuinely want to remain.
For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact James Jackson at Conrad Consulting.