London, UK
Passivhaus designer/building physicist
at Architype
Architype is looking for a Passivhaus designer/building physicist to join its team in Edinburgh, Scotland, London or Hereford, UK.
Introduction
We are looking for creative inquisitive technical minds to join our team at Architype. The role is as a full time Passivhaus designer/consultant with proven buildings physics interest in buildings.
You do not need to have an architectural qualification for this role but have a focused interest in delivering buildings and energy modelling of buildings that eliminate the performance gap and support us in delivering low energy low carbon buildings.
Location is flexible but demand for this skill set is required across our three-base office locations (London, Hereford, Edinburgh). Remote and flexible working is on offer but there is a requirement to regularly attend monthly in person meetings with our technical department at your identified base office.
About Architype
Architype is the UK’s leading Passivhaus architect and widely recognised for our innovative approach including Education Architect of the Year, highly commended AJ100 Practice of the Year, 2022 RIBA London and Sustainability Award and 2022 South of England and South Wales BCO award.
Architype has an open and collaborative ethos with a common purpose – to deliver fantastic architecture that performs exactly as predicted. We have steadily grown over the last 35 years and are now a team of 90+ collaborating across three studios in Edinburgh, Hereford and London.
Architype has a rich history of pioneering low carbon design and a clear focus on how buildings work for people and the planet. We masterplan and design a wide range of buildings across the education, university, housing, community and cultural sectors. Our consultancy service PERFORM+ enables us to offer insight and cutting-edge technical expertise to clients.
Working culture at Architype is creative and caring. We work in a collaborative and supportive way that encourages fresh ideas and career progression, and we support flexible working for all.
Architype is regularly featured in the top five of Building’s Employer of the Year. We are 30% owned by the staff through an Employee Benefit Trust and are committed to becoming 100% employee owned in the future.
Architype is currently evolving a hybrid working policy to enable staff to work flexibly from both home and from our studios. In Edinburgh we have just occupied an exciting new studio space. In Hereford our studio is based in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside. In London we are experimenting with a shared working solution. All staff are fully supported with equipment to enable hybrid working and are integrated into our collaborative team culture both on and offline.
Benefits
A competitive salary which is aligned to industry standards. The salary level will be dependent on experience. For information here are the salary bandings for each level:
Hereford
£19,850 – £26,500 (Junior)
£26,500 – £44,000 (Senior)
Edinburgh
£21,425 – £30,500 (Junior)
£30,500 – £46,750 (Senior)
London
£23,000 – £33,500 (Junior)
£33,500 – £49,500 (Senior)
33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
37.5 hour week – flexible/hybrid working possible
Pension benefits of 3% employer contribution and access to a company health scheme and cycle to work scheme.
To apply
Architype is an Equal Opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and staff engagement forums, to support staff from different backgrounds.
Please can we ask that you complete our anonymous equality and diversity monitoring form by clicking on this link.
To apply, please note
We welcome applications from all nationalities: however, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, so before you apply for this post, please ensure that you already have the right to work in the UK. For more details on eligibility to work in the UK, please visit the Government website.
Send a 300 word statement, setting out how you meet the criteria in the job specification along with your CV and a brief portfolio (max size 5mB).
Note: You must state, in the subject line of your email, your preferred office location (Edinburgh/ Hereford / London), and the job role you are interested in (PH designer). Without this information in the subject heading we will be unable to sift your application correctly and it may be missed.
These posts will initially be offered as one-year contracts with the option of further extension.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 28 October 2022. The interview will be via VC in the week 31 October 2022.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we are sorry we cannot respond to all applications, so if you do not hear from us after the interview date above please assume that you have been unsuccessful.
Note that all applications will be treated in accordance with our GDPR policy. For more information, please click here.
Job description
Mission
The overall mission of the Passivhaus Designer role is to deliver Passivhaus buildings alongside our internal and external teams and collaborators.
Core purpose
The core purpose of a Passivhaus Designer is to support developing evidence led design innovation utilising modelling software for Passivhaus and other skill sets described below
Key responsibilities:
- provide design advice in internal teams and external teams in relation to Passivhaus early design and detailed design development
- understand impact of design team and client team decision making on design development regarding Passivhaus requirements
- produce and collate reports and graphic output appropriate to RIBA stages of development of design
- be aware of and understand building material science in relation to details development and general design team co-ordination of design
- be an active participant in the collaborative design development ethos of the practice in relation to our integrated approach to designing with PHPP and other softwares including Revit and others described below
- be a proactive communicator and have an ability to manage expectations and scope outputs around deadlines both internal and external
- continue evolution of learning around Passivhaus requirements and learning outcomes
- the above-mentioned tasks are a summary of the key responsibilities involved, however, the post holder may be asked to carry out other tasks as directed by the directors or associate directors
Job specification:
You will demonstrate:
- evidence of working flexibility and successfully in a wide range of teams,
- be a good communicator and like problem solving on range of different levels within design and site related construction issues.
Whilst the primary role is for Passivhaus related work, the following notes below a series of desirable skillsets as there may be a need for multiple appointments.
You should demonstrate ability in a number of the below areas with a willingness to learn.
Essential:
- understanding and implementation of Passivhaus design including understanding of PHPP software
- excellent presentation and graphical communication skills
- excellent report writing skills
- a friendly, personable and team player attitude with excellent time management
- knowledge and specialisms in a variety of construction methods
- familiarity working with ISO 9001 45001 and 14001 standards
- enjoy working in a team environment
- commitment to alignment with Architype’s core values as a creative, ecological, progressive community
Desirable:
- Revit skills desirable but can be supported via in-house training – willingness to learn is essential
- Thermal bridging analysis or experience in WUFI/other energy modelling software
- good detailing ability and excellent technical skills
- full knowledge and understanding of the Building Regulations
Other interests welcome, such as:
- post occupancy and building performance evaluation,
- computational skills, i.e, Rhino3D and Grasshopper, Python, visual programming, Excel and/or PowerBI