Associate - WSP Architecture

We are looking for an experienced Associate to join and support the continued growth of our Architecture and Interior Design team at Cardiff, with a particular interest in candidates bringing workplace and/or defence sector experience.

The successful candidate could come from an architectural or interior design background. More important than a particular professional route is a strong track record of leading the design and delivery of projects, managing clients and multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to the commercial success and growth of a design business.

Working across WSP, the role will encompass projects of different scales and typologies, with a focus on workplace, defence, and commercial sectors.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Lead the delivery of design projects or work packages of varying scale and complexity, acting as Project/ Design Lead.
• Take responsibility for project budgets, programmes, commercial performance, risk, quality and technical standards.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring design solutions are coordinated, deliverable and meet client requirements.
• Work directly with clients and stakeholders, developing trusted relationships, proactively managing expectations and providing clear professional advice.
• Build internal relationships across WSP to identify opportunities and ensure Architecture and Interior Design is effectively positioned within wider multidisciplinary commissions.
• Mentor and support colleagues, helping develop design, technical and project-delivery capability across the team.
• Manage team members, setting objectives, conducting performance and development reviews and supporting career progression, while also contributing to recruitment and onboarding as the team grows.
• Contribute to business planning and work winning, with particular emphasis on the workplace and defence sectors, supporting regional growth and financial targets.
• Support bidding activity, including technical/ quality responses, fee proposals, resource planning, interviews, and client presentations.
• Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with relevant health and safety, statutory and environmental requirements.
• Help build a positive, collaborative team culture, acting as a go-to point for problem solving and achieving team and business goals.
• Champion an inclusive workplace and a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture, leading by example across the team and on projects.
   

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant professional experience within architecture and/or interior design.
• A relevant professional qualification, membership or accreditation appropriate to your discipline.
• A proven track record of leading projects and multidisciplinary teams through the concept design, technical development and delivery stages.
• Experience within areas such as workplace and/or defence environments, particularly where this has involved complex client, stakeholder, technical or security requirements.
• Sound design and/or technical capability, with an ability to translate client requirements and design intent into high-quality, coordinated and deliverable solutions.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, standards, regulations and industry best practice appropriate to your discipline.
• Proven commercial awareness, including experience of fee, programme, resource, change, and risk management.
• Client and stakeholder management skills with the expectation to represent WSP in meetings, presentations and technical discussions.

• Experience contributing to business development and bids, with the ability to identify opportunities and grow client relationships.

• Experience of line managing and developing others, with leadership skills and the ability to motivate teams.

• The ability to operate independently while working collaboratively within a wider leadership team.

• Have an ability to communicate technical detail graphically and effectively to both colleagues and client teams.

• Must be able to obtain UK vetting level of Security Check (SC) 

• Experience of Revit and collaborative BIM/digital delivery environments would be advantageous.

• A proven commitment to health, safety and wellbeing.