Design Guardian (RIBA/ARB) - Masterplanning / Design Coordination (London-Based)
10 hours ago
City of London
Design Guardian (RIBA/ARB) - Masterplanning / Design Coordination (London-Based) International Design Studio – Major Middle East Landmark Project A globally recognised, design-led architecture studio is seeking a London-based Senior Architect / Masterplanner to take on a pivotal coordination and design-guardianship role for one of the most significant upcoming projects in the Middle East. This is a rare opportunity to represent an award-winning international practice at the heart of a once-in-a-generation development… acting as the central coordination bridge between the client, specialist engineering teams, and an international design studio working collaboratively across several global hubs. If you thrive in high-level coordination, love complex urban-scale problems, and enjoy being trusted with real responsibility, this role will give you unparalleled exposure. The Role… As the London-based representative for the global design team, you will: • Work 2 to 3 days per week on-site within the consultant team in London, acting as the project’s design guardian and ensuring the masterplan intent is upheld through all coordination activities., • Act as the primary interface between UK-based consultants and the international design leadership., • Lead the flow of information, track decisions, and coordinate across disciplines to maintain consistency and clarity., • Review consultant outputs, identify design implications, and report risks or required decisions back to the design principal., • Support the global team in upholding project vision, design principles and strategic objectives., • Participate in coordination sessions, technical discussions and design reviews across multiple time zones., • Act as a trusted ambassador for the practice, establishing strong working relationships with senior consultant teams. This is not a production heavy role… it is a leadership-level coordination position situated at the heart of one of the world’s most high-profile developments. What They’re Looking For… Essential… • 8 to 10 years of experience (minimum 5) in architecture, urban design or masterplanning., • Demonstrable experience on large-scale, complex development projects… ideally masterplans or multi-building sites., • Strong understanding of design coordination, interfaces, and the knock-on effects of multidisciplinary decisions., • Ability to work autonomously, represent a design principal, and act with clarity, maturity and confidence., • Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills… calm, articulate, ego-free., • Strong organisational ability: tracking issues, managing actions, ensuring alignment., • A genuine passion for ambitious, visionary design projects. Highly Beneficial… • Experience reviewing consultant work across engineering, mobility, infrastructure, environmental or urban systems., • Some exposure to construction-stage realities or value-engineering processes., • Familiarity with Revit or ability to liaise with technical support teams working in BIM., • Experience working across multiple time zones. Working Style & Cultural Fit… Given that the design team is distributed globally, you will need to be comfortable working across time zones, with occasional early-morning or out-of-hours coordination. While not a traditional 9 to 5 setting, the culture is highly collaborative, mission-driven and centred around delivering a flagship project on the world stage. The studio values people who are… • Passionate about the project., • Self-motivated and dependable., • Team-oriented, respectful and low-ego., • Energised by solving complex multidisciplinary challenges. Location… • London-based, • Hybrid model: part-week in consultant offices, part-remote, with high autonomy. Contract Structure… • Full-time role via a consultancy-style engagement., • Long-term commitment: initial 2+ years of guaranteed work, with potential involvement extending to 2030., • Competitive senior-level compensation aligned with experience. Why This Role Is Exceptional… • It places you at the centre of one of the most significant Middle Eastern developments currently in motion., • You become the key voice ensuring the integrity of the masterplan vision., • You work directly with the global leadership of a renowned design studio., • You gain exposure to complex urban systems, cutting-edge design thinking, and major international stakeholders., • You step into a role with real strategic influence, not just delivery. If you’re motivated by complex, visionary, global-scale work and want a central role in shaping an extraordinary masterplan, we would love to hear from you.