London, UK
Head of digital design
at David Chipperfield Architects
David Chipperfield Architects is hiring a head of digital design to join its team in London.
This is an opportunity to set up and build a new digital design department as part of an international architecture practice. You will lead an integrated digital design team including CAD, BIM and visualisation specialists, in providing solutions for effective design representation and delivery tailored to each project’s context and needs.
We have been embarking on a digital design change project over the past year and this is a fantastic opportunity to be part of setting out a new digital design future for the practice. This is a key leadership role that will set out a strategic vision for our digital design processes in order to create efficiency in digital design workflows. A key initial deliverable will be to provide a qualitative assessment of our current digital strategy, propose costed and targeted realignments to enhance the quality and efficiency of our delivery.
You will work with all project teams in assessing project digital resources, skillsets, and workflows appropriate for design, production and collaboration. The mandate is to develop digital design tools and workflow from design, production and collaboration, whilst constantly challenge our current tools and processes. You will lead on developing DCA internal BIM delivery strategy and work closely with internal working groups to develop appropriate BIM protocols and QAQC procedures. Working closely with project teams, and other working groups, you will develop integrated guidance, training, digital tools, and libraries that facilitate high level of digital fluency in response to design and technical requirements.
For full details and to apply click here.
We are a diversity positive and equal opportunities employer with a consciously inclusive culture and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
Key responsibilities
Project digital design leadership:
- digital design deliverables – give advice and work closely with project teams and their consultants on developing project workflows, to achieve the project’s deliverables, and maintain the level of design control within projects
- project digital design strategy – collaborate with project teams in developing an appropriate digital design strategy for each project including software usage, workflow and training, BIM and CAD set up, as well as digital QAQC. Ensure every project team has the appropriate skillsets and digital tools to achieve the desired design and technical deliverables at all stages
- digital design champions – identify architects with specialist digital design interests and knowledge within each project, and develop mechanisms to support and nurture their digital design skills. Promote communication and knowledge sharing between these individuals and the rest of the office
- training and specialist consultancy – devise a digital design training strategy for project teams, in particular digital design champions, for design, production and collaboration. Identify and engage relevant external specialists to support training and problem solving as required
Practice-wide digital design excellence:
- digital design team organisation – define and develop roles within the digital design team in relation to the wider practice, and devise appropriate support, training, and development goals for all the digital design team
- practice digital design scope definition: Working closely with the new projects team pre-contract on defining project digital design and BIM delivery plans appropriate for projects of different types, locations, collaborators and stages
- digital workflows and interoperability – develop digital workflows for various geometrical challenges, in particular between Rhino/ArchiCAD/3DsMax, in response to 2D and 3D design representation and production standards, as well as collaborations with external consultants
- digital design resources – develop appropriate standards, templates and guidance for effective digital tooling in 3D modelling, visualisation and BIM tools, and incorporate associated packages, scripts and plugins into an integrated visual, digital resource and reference library accessible by all
- working group and PIM collaboration – executing digital design strategy in coordination with other working groups, actively facilitate other working groups to achieve internal goals on tools, methodology, sustainability, and quality control and PIM
- digital design recruitment – provide recruitment requirements, and participate in the recruitment process for architects and digital design specialists
- digital design training and knowledge management – develop digital training and support programmes, and contribution to DCA’s CPD agenda. Work closely with the knowledge management team in distributing, communicating, and maintaining content on the intranet
- digital design R&D – develop a research and development programme to explore digital design tools for sustainable design, effective delivery, and seamless collaboration
Industry digital design connection:
- engage with the wider industry’s digital design bodies, maintain current knowledge of emerging technologies, and apply current knowledge of emerging technologies to problem solving on projects
- represent DCA in connecting with, and be able to recommend, relevant external digital design experts and specialist contractors and suppliers to facilitate project problem solving
- promote excellence in continuing professional development and ensure project teams are familiar with emerging ISO protocols and best practice to ensure the best use of computational design resources
- participate in industry activities, conferences, trade fairs, talks, keep abreast of current technological developments
Candidate requirements:
- prior experience as a BIM manager, working on multiple projects ideally in a design led practice
- good experience in being part of a team developing and delivering architectural projects of various scales and complexities
- excellent level of technical competency and industry knowledge
- advanced level of experience in digital design software platforms and plug-ins, in particular 3D modelling in Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit, ArchiCAD, and 3DsMax, in all project stages
- some prior experience in managing a small team of specialists with diverse digital design background
- clarity in communicating strategies, processes to architects and management teams
- experience of inspiring and steering teams towards a desired outcome, effective team and people leadership and management
- experience in mentorship and nurturing talent
- developing and delivering on strategic goals, prioritising time and delegating effectively
Benefits
This role is eligible for hybrid working with some days in the central London studio and some days worked from home.
On top of a competitive salary, we offer staff a wide range of benefits: medical cash plan, pension, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, private healthcare, an employee assistance programme, paid professional memberships, site visits, training opportunities (both in-house CPD seminars and external courses), cycle-to-work scheme, and interest free TFL season ticket loan.
We offer the opportunity to work from home part of the time, and also to work from abroad for up to 30 days a year. We also have a core-hours working policy that allows for flexible start/end times to your working day.
Our growing internal cultural programme includes talks from a diverse and varied selection of speakers. We also often gather to celebrate with staff social events and parties. We have an active diversity programme with staff groups to promote awareness and equity around gender, LGBTQ+, racial equality and other diversity positive initiatives.
For full details and to apply click here.