London, UK
Architect
at Gort Scott
Gort Scott is seeking an architect to join its team in London.
Gort Scott is looking for an experienced architect to work on a new urban design project, starting imminently. We are looking for someone with at least five years’ experience post qualification, or equivalent. You will have experience in housing and a strong interest in urban scale projects – urban design, placemaking and masterplanning – is essential, and ideally you will have experience in these areas. The role is initially for a 12-month fixed-term contract and we hope to make it permanent if possible.
An Architect is an important role in the practice, with responsibility for the smooth running of projects including developing and coordinating designs, project team liaison, cost control, and leading architectural assistants. At times, you will be part of a team as a producer of design development and design information. At other times, you will also be a Project Manager with further responsibilities relating to job running. This will depend on the type and scale of the project in relation to your skills, knowledge, experience and professional development. For this role, we anticipate that you will be a Project Manager, helping run the project.
About Gort Scott
Gort Scott is an architecture and urban design practice with a focus on how buildings and places create the setting for connections between people. We are attuned to working and thinking at different scales, from one-off houses to planning pieces of city and in both the public and private sectors. We are inspired by the contexts in which we work and develop propositions that resonate with them.
We recognise the link between equality and quality, both in our practice and in the projects that we design. At our self-built Bermondsey studio, we have grown to an international community of 30 members within a gender-diverse team. We are members of the London Practice Forum and Londonon, collectives for collaboration, research and knowledge-exchange. We are co-founders of RE-SET-GO a paid workplace experience and mentoring programme established with the mission of diversifying architecture practices.
We are committed to working urgently to make the massive changes needed to end the built environment’s contribution to the climate and ecological emergency. This is integral to our wider purpose to create healthy environments for better connections between people, now and for the future. Social and environmental goals are incorporated in our work at all stages both internally and externally.
We are a dedicated, friendly office, with a creative and motivated atmosphere, encouraging open discussion and testing of ideas. We are a Certified B Corporation, a London Living Wage Employer and have signed up to the Mayor’s Good Work Standard
The studio has won a number of awards, including the Wallpaper Best Private House, an AJ Retrofit Award, NLA Mayor’s Prize, a Civic Trust Award, RIBA National Award, AR Future Project of the Year, and shortlisted for the Architect of The Year Award.
Key role responsibilities
Design:
- contribute to and apply the practice’s design ethos, driving this through each project at all stages
- progress design development and coordination with internal and external team members to produce design information. Design information includes 2D drawings, 3D models, schedules, specifications and visualisations. Maintain appropriate levels of detail, accuracy and quality to work undertaken
- prepare reports and presentations and, where appropriate, present architectural designs to clients, collaborators and colleagues at meetings and possibly wider industry events
- on a day-to-day basis, review and check design information, reports and presentations you produce for errors, discrepancies and omissions prior to seeking review from others
- additional project manager design duties:
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- follow through the design direction and practice’s Project Priorities which have been agreed with the Directors/Associate Directors and Project Owner and stated in the PQP, communicating them to our internal project team and applying them through design development and coordination.
- schedule design, technical, impact reviews at critical points with the Directors and/or Associate Directors, Environmental Action Group, and EDI & Social Value Action Group
Project management:
- each project has tasks that arise during design development and coordination. Be aware of the terms of our appointment, scope, deliverables, programme and PQP to inform your daily tasks
- tasks assigned to you should be diligently actioned
- contribute to project management by undertaking tasks such as maintaining a brief development record, writing meeting agendas and minutes, emailing team members, and product and supplier research
- be mindful of deadlines and inform the Project Owner/Project Manager if tasks you undertake are achievable within a deadline, are on target or need further support to remain on target
- liaise with external project team members to seek advice as required. Review, coordinate and provide feedback to advice and designs from external project team members where appropriate
- further project ,anager responsibilities include:
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- plan, manage and monitor the preparation of deliverables, such as reports, presentations and design information, coordinating and delegating tasks to our internal project team and working to project deadlines
- review and check reports, presentations and design information you produce and those by other team members for errors, discrepancies and omissions prior to issue to a senior management team member for further review prior to external issue
- when preparing reports and presentations, consider the audience for these outputs, gauging the content appropriately and whether, for example, they will become publicly available
- support the project owner to manage project appointments, fees, and resourcing
- manage projects in CMap, maintaining the resource schedule, invoice schedule and percentage complete slider each month. Work to agreed budgets and flag any issues to the project owner or directors in a timely manner. Confirm to the practice manager when invoices are due and the amount payable
- liaise with the senior management team to identify, manage, and monitor project risks
Compliance and knowledge:
- plan, manage and coordinate project work with both internal and external teams
- give feedback and input to Project Owner to help them allocate appropriate time and resources to meet all quality and compliance needs
- follow the Quality Management System (including Project Quality Plans) for both practice and project work; ensure the project team are also following Quality Management System procedures including:
- filing requirements
- RIBA Stage Reports and packs of information to be reviewed and signed-off prior to issue
- all necessary project reviews
- perform your responsibilities in relation to the practice’s other systems, including Environmental Management System, Health & Safety Policy, and Arrangements for CDM and Building Regulations
- be aware and apply CDM and Building Regulations, and other standards; ensure your work and that of your team meets necessary requirements
- be alert to the extent of your own, personal competence and those on your teams and proactively flag whenever you/they are requested to act beyond your/their knowledge, experience and training
- maintain and improve your knowledge of CDM, Building Regulations and best practice documents, i.e. London Plan, LETI/RIBA/other sustainability guidance, etc as appropriate to a project. In particular, build a thorough knowledge of the Building Regulations Approved Documents
- take responsibility for your professional development to maintain professional knowledge and competency and suitability for the role, including as a minimum the required annual CPD hours
Studio:
- manage junior team members day-to-day, being mindful of the well-being of project teams, identifying individual training requirements and CPD needs for the practice
- highlight areas of improvement and support the Directors and Practice Manager in the progression of office systems and policies
- support the practice in finding new work and marketing opportunities through working on tenders, marketing material and other collateral
- assist the Senior Management Team with the progression of office systems and policies as required
- take on additional areas of responsibility, management or other specialisms within the practice as required
- provide mentoring to junior members of the practice in accordance with the practices’ learning and development programme
- support the Practice Manager to maintain a clean and tidy office environment suitable for the work that the practice undertakes
- you may be asked to participate in the recruitment process, reviewing CVs, interviewing potential candidates and selecting new members of the team who fit with the role requirements and culture of the practice
- you may be asked to represent the practice at events such as industry fairs, conferences and seminars
Impact:
- promote our approach to social value and environmental impact and advocate for it in all your work
- manage use of the Social Value Project Check List and Sustainable Design Roadmap across all projects
- manage delivery of your project’s social value contractual obligations and environmental goals throughout all project stages, from briefing and design to delivery and use
- commit to taking part in a form of outreach or volunteering for the practice each year
- understand Gort Scott’s carbon reduction targets and be mindful of how you contribute to reducing our carbon footprint
- actively participate in one of Gort Scott’s six working groups and take on actions or deliverables agreed by the group
Skills and competencies
Experience and qualifications:
- ARB registered Architect, or equivalent
- at least five years of experience as a qualified architect, or equivalent, is essential
Skills:
- excellent design and attention to detail
- excellent organisational skills
- proactive approach to working either as part of a team or on your own, capable to take the initiative
- good communication skills, including good written skills for the purpose of reports and presentations
- fluency in speaking and writing English essential
IT and software:
- highly IT literate
- knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, in particular Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word and PowerPoint essential
- excellent knowledge of Vectorworks essential
- knowledge of BIM and Revit software desirable
- knowledge of Enscape desirable
- knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, in particular Acrobat, InDesign, and Photoshop essential
Salary and benefits
Our salary offer is from £45,000+ per annum, depending on experience.
Gort Scott is dedicated to providing a good work/life balance and offers a range of benefits to its staff, including, but not limited to:
- three additional holiday days off for Christmas per year
- increasing holiday days for length of service
- two additional days off for volunteering per year
- five additional half days off for childcare reasons per year
- hybrid and flexible working
- TOIL arrangements for overtime
- support for Part 3 studies: fees, loan, mentor, and study days
- Employee Assistance Programme
- death in service insurance
- enhanced maternity and paternity pay
- mentoring scheme
- social activities from our GS Life team
Additional information on benefits can be provided and discussed at interview.
Applying for the role
Gort Scott is an equal opportunities employer. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, disabled, and women candidates as these groups are underrepresented throughout the architecture profession.
Sadly, at this time, we are unable to sponsor anyone without a visa to work in the UK. Therefore, it’s essential that you apply only if you have permanent right to work in the UK.
If you are interested in applying, please send over your CV and a portfolio to [email protected] with the subject line: Architect Application – Autumn 2025
We need to fill this role quickly and will review applications as they come in. Therefore, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
We may not be able to respond to all applications. If you have been shortlisted then you should hear from us by the end of the year.
No CVs over 5MB. No agencies.