Architect to Design Manager | Move Beyond Traditional Practice

Exclusive opportunity through Grø Careers

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Are you an architect who has started to realise that the part of your role you enjoy most is not necessarily producing the design itself, but coordinating the people, information and decisions required to deliver it?

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Grø Careers is working exclusively with a highly regarded London-based consultancy that is open to appointing an architect seeking their first dedicated move into Design Management.

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Our client is not rushing to fill the position. The priority is to identify the right individual for the business: someone with strong architectural foundations, the confidence to work across multidisciplinary teams and a genuine interest in developing an alternative career pathway within the design and construction industry.

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This could be particularly well suited to an architect who is not yet actively applying for Design Manager positions, but would value the opportunity to understand what the transition looks like and whether it aligns with their strengths and longer-term ambitions.

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What could make your experience relevant?

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You do not need to have previously held a Design Manager title.

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The strongest candidates are likely to have gained direct responsibility for some of the following within architectural practice:

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• Developing, contributing to or working alongside project controls and delivery documents such as design programmes, Design Responsibility Matrices (DRM's), Project Execution Plans (PEP's), or similar. Direct ownership is not essential, but practical exposure to or a good understanding of how these tools structure design delivery would be valuable.
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• Coordinating structural, MEP, landscape, sustainability, cost and specialist consultant information.
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• Taking ownership of defined project workstreams, packages or areas of a building.
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• Managing architectural and consultant deliverables against workstage deadlines or client programmes.
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• Leading or contributing meaningfully to client, stakeholder and design-team meetings.
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• Preparing agendas and minutes, tracking actions and decisions, and following responsibilities through to completion.
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• Maintaining drawing registers, deliverables schedules, briefing information, revision logs, change records or trackers.
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• Coordinating substantial information releases.
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• Managing interfaces between architecture, interiors, shell-and-core, fit-out and specialist packages.
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• Contributing to consultant/contractor engagement, value engineering or cost-rationalisation exercises.
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• Working within complex stakeholder structures, international teams or large multidisciplinary projects.
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You may currently be an experienced Architectural Assistant, Architect, Senior Architectural Designer or recently qualified Architect. The level of responsibility you have held is more important than your existing title.

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What does the move involve?

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Design Management allows architects to remain closely connected to design while moving away from a predominantly production-focused role.

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Rather than personally developing every element of the design, you will help establish the structure through which the wider team can deliver it successfully. This can include coordinating consultants, managing information and deliverables, facilitating decisions, identifying risks, resolving interfaces and maintaining alignment between the brief, programme, design and wider project team.

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The opportunity would suit someone who naturally looks beyond their own production, enjoys bringing clarity to complex projects and is comfortable communicating with people across different disciplines and levels of seniority.

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It is unlikely to suit someone who is motivated by hands-on architectural design or who sees Design Management simply as a route towards a more senior architectural position.

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A considered transition, not just a job application

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Grø Careers specialises in supporting architects moving into Design, Project and Development Management.

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For suitable applicants, our involvement goes beyond submitting a CV. We provide tailored advice covering:

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• What the day-to-day responsibilities of a Design Manager actually look like.
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• How the role differs from architectural project-running and design leadership.
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• Which parts of your existing experience transfer immediately.
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• Where your experience may currently be less developed.
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• How to present your CV and project experience for a Design Management audience.
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• How to evidence direct responsibility without overstating your exposure.
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• How to prepare for a specialist Design Management interview process.
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This is an opportunity to explore the transition properly, with a client that is prepared to focus on long-term fit rather than making a rushed appointment.

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The opportunity

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• Exclusive to Grø Careers.
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• London-based specialist consultancy.
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• Opportunity for an architect to move into a dedicated Design Management role.
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• Exposure to complex, design-led projects and internationally recognised architectural teams.
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• Supportive environment in which to learn formal Design Management processes and project controls.
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• Salary and level dependent on the relevance and depth of your existing experience.
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To be considered, you will need to provide both a CV and examples of your project work (projects exceeding £10m). A portfolio or selected project document is important, as it allows us to assess the scale, coordination, management and delivery responsibilities you held around the work.

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All conversations will be treated confidentially.