Dezeen Jobs

Unagru is looking for a practice development and delivery lead to join its team in London.

Unagru is a small architectural practice in East London, working across architecture, interiors and urbanism.

Our projects range from complex refurbishments and private houses to new residential buildings and larger developments. We have a particular interest in ecology, materials, construction and the relationship between buildings and their wider environment.

We’re growing, and we’re looking for someone to help us develop the practice and take responsibility for the delivery of our projects.

This is an unusual role. We’re looking for an experienced architect or architectural technologist who understands how buildings are made, enjoys organising complex work and is interested in how technology and better systems can change architectural practice.

You’ll work closely with the director and our architects, with considerable independence and the opportunity to become part of the company’s leadership.

What you’ll do

Our architects generally run their own projects, from the first conversations with clients through design, planning and construction.

We want you to help them do this better.

You’ll maintain an overview of the projects across the studio, help establish realistic programmes, review progress and identify problems before they become urgent. You’ll support architects in making decisions, coordinating consultants and delivering work on time and to a consistently high standard.

You’ll also have an important role in technical design and construction. We’re looking for someone with substantial site experience, a good understanding of building regulations and construction methods, and the confidence to review drawings, resolve difficult details and work with contractors.

You’ll help establish a culture of regular project reviews, shared knowledge and collective responsibility for the quality of our work.

Developing the practice

We’re particularly interested in how architectural practices can work differently.

We want to spend less time on repetitive administration, improve the reliability of our work and make more room for design, research and learning.

We’re investing in Revit, Notion, AI and automation, and we’re developing systems for project management, quality assurance, technical knowledge and documentation.

We’re looking for someone who shares this interest and wants to take an active role in developing these tools.

We want someone who notices when a process is inefficient, questions why we’re doing things a particular way and enjoys finding a better solution.

There will be real opportunities to experiment, develop new systems and put them into practice across the studio.

Who we’re looking for

You’ll have substantial experience delivering architectural projects, including technical design and construction.

We’re particularly interested in:

• strong architectural and technical judgement, with excellent knowledge of construction and detailing
• experience managing multiple projects, programmes, consultants and deadlines
• significant site experience and the ability to work confidently with contractors
• strong Revit skills and an interest in developing better digital workflows
• experience reviewing and coordinating drawings and technical information
• good knowledge of building regulations, procurement and JCT contracts
• commercial awareness, including an understanding of fees, resources and project profitability
• experience supporting, mentoring or managing other architects
• genuine curiosity about technology, systems, AI and the future of architectural practice
• experience with residential projects, retrofit and complex existing buildings would be particularly valuable

You might be an architect or an architectural technologist. We’re more interested in your experience, judgement and ambition than your job title.

What we’re offering

We’re a small team, and the people who join us have a real influence on the practice.

You’ll have the freedom to develop ideas, question how we work and take responsibility for making things better. You’ll also have the support of colleagues who care about architecture, enjoy learning and take their work seriously.

We see this as a long-term appointment, with a genuine opportunity to become part of Unagru’s leadership and take increasing responsibility for the company.

We’re looking for someone who would enjoy that challenge.

Applying

Please submit your CV and examples of relevant work, including technical drawings and photographs of completed projects.

We’d also be interested in hearing about something you’ve improved in a previous practice – whether that’s a project delivery process, a technical system, a digital tool or simply a better way of organising work.

Tell us what you changed and what happened as a result.

www.unagru.com