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BeforeBricks is hiring a Part 2 or experienced Part 1 architectural assistant to join its team remotely from the UK.

About the role

BeforeBricks is an architectural and planning consultancy working on residential, conservation and historic property projects, plus general planning and building regulations work for private clients across England. We’re a small team, and we need someone who can actually run with a planning application, not just draw what they’re told.

You won’t spend a year doing quiet CAD work before anyone lets you near a client. You’ll be talking to clients, dealing with planning officers, and managing your own jobs fairly quickly. If that sounds stressful rather than an opportunity to develop and sharpen your skills, this probably isn’t for you.

The role is fully remote. You’ll need to travel occasionally for site visits and measured surveys, so you have to actually live in England.

Who we’re looking for:

• RIBA Part 2 qualified, whether or not you’re currently working towards Part 3
• or an experienced Part 1 with at least 12 months of UK practice experience after your Part 1
• we won’t consider students
• we don’t offer PEDR support or formal mentoring in this role
• if you’re specifically looking for structured supervision towards Part 3, we’re not the right fit and you’ll be better served elsewhere.

What you’ll actually be doing:

• running planning applications from first advice through to decision each with their own quirks and validation requirements
• producing proper submission-ready drawings in AutoCAD existing and proposed not concept sketches
• carrying out measured surveys on site and turning that survey data into accurate drawings yourself
• putting together Building Regulations packages and coordinating with structural engineers and building control
• talking to clients directly. Explaining planning constraints to people who’ve never dealt with the system before, sitting with them through site visits, presenting options
• working out what additional reports a scheme will need before the council tells you
• handling planning officer queries and pushing applications through amendments to a decision

What you need to already have:

• real working knowledge of planning permission and the UK planning system
• you should be able to talk through permitted development rights and the validation process or learn quickly and be motivated
• experience managing planning applications yourself
• we’ll want to see a portfolio of drawings you actually produced in practice
• experience carrying out measured surveys and converting that data into drawings
• good written English
• you’ll be writing directly to clients and sometimes to planning departments
• evidence you can take a project from a first client conversation through to submission on your own
• the ability to work independently in a remote setup.

Nice to have but not essential:

• time spent in a small practice where you had to do a bit of everything, rather than one narrow role at a large firm
• familiarity with specific local authority planning portals or validation checklists
• please no students, recruitment agencies, applicants outside the UK. We do not sponsor work visas.

What’s on offer:

• fully remote, with occasional travel for site visits and surveys
  real client contact and planning responsibility much earlier than you’d get at a bigger firm
• genuine autonomy on live jobs, not busywork
• involvement in conservation and historic property work
• we need someone to start immediately/next two weeks, so if you’re currently employed, tell us your notice period upfront.

Salary: £TBC
Hours: 40 hours per week
Location: fully remote, must live in England
Start date: immediate

How to apply

Email your CV, a portfolio showing planning drawings you personally prepared in practice (not just university work), and a short note covering your qualification level, that you’re based in England, and your notice period if you’re currently employed, via the apply for job button below.

Subject line: BeforeBricks architectural assistant – [insert full name]

BeforeBricks is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

www.beforebricks.com