David Chipperfield Architects’ (DCA) London office is looking to appoint a Head of Sustainable Design. The practice is seeking an experienced candidate who will integrate sustainability into every aspect of the design process, across a diverse international body of work, which includes cultural, residential, commercial and educational buildings. Head of Sustainable Design is a new role, which the successful candidate will have scope to define and develop. The individual will work closely with practice leadership, design teams and the practice’s sustainability working group.

Responsibilities include:

Projects

• Identify clear sustainability ambitions for each project with the design team and support the fulfilment and assessment of these.
• Facilitate communication within and outside the project teams to promote these ambitions throughout the development of the projects.
• Advise on sustainable construction systems and material choices, including supply chain assessment.
• Enable in-house analysis of thermal performance, daylight/sunlight, embodied carbon etc.
• Coordinate progress towards the achievement of the office’s sustainability commitments.
• Enable the collection of sustainability data and assist with third-party certification systems such as Passivhaus, BREEAM, LEED.
• Enable in-house analysis of Whole Life Cycle, studies on building physics and daylight/sunlight analysis.
• Propose, select and appoint relevant external expertise where necessary.
• Lead post-occupancy studies.

Practice

• Evolve and implement the practice’s vision and strategy for sustainable design in a wider sense incorporating both environmental and social sustainability.
• Be a thought leader, support DCA’s expertise and help enhance their sustainability and regenerative design capabilities as an integral part of excellent design.
• Identify and incorporate relevant software into the design workflow such as Whole Life Cycle Assessment software.
• Lead development of environmental design standards and ISO 14001 certification.
• Lead the sharing of guidance and knowledge across the practice, develop training plans and upskilling for staff, sharing information on new guidance and standards relevant to the work and CPD requirements.
• Lead and coordinate relevant training to elevate skills and understanding across the practice.
• Monitor and update teams of policy changes, new research and relevant regulations.
• Advocate the principles and benefits of sustainable design to clients and collaborators.
• Engage in industry-wide initiatives and networks, such as Architects Declare, RIBA, Leti, BRE.
• Use the practice’s reputation and resources to promote sustainable design across the industry.
• Support the decarbonising efforts of the practice’s business operations (carbon footprint).
• Carry out research projects in areas that are relevant to the practice projects (possibly in collaboration with external consultants/ universities, etc.), resulting in reports to be published internally or externally, shared with the wider industry.

Skills, knowledge and expertise:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience of sustainable design in the construction industry.
• Background in both sustainability and architecture to align with DCA’s ambition for relevant and integrated research and design.
• Bachelors or Masters degree in Sustainability, Architecture, Urbanism, or related field.
• Extensive knowledge of sustainable design strategies including passive design, material selection and technologies.
• Ability to work independently and on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills for internal communications and for representing the office externally.
• Intellectual curiosity, eagerness to engage with others and willingness to contribute.
• Experience of leading, teaching and mentoring others.

Benefits:

You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of interesting international and UK based architectural projects. They offer a full suite of employment benefits including private health insurance, cycle to work scheme, a cash health plan, employer contributed pension, an employee assistance plan, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, and visa assistance for candidates who need to relocate to London. They have a core hours policy to allow staff to flex their start/end times each day and up to 30 days a year can be worked from abroad.