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Lead Landscape Architect
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Manchester Lead – Landscape Architecture | Manchester | Full Time | £60,000–£75,000 DOE
Our client is an award-winning landscape architecture practice with an established presence in London and Manchester, working on schemes across the UK and internationally.
Their projects span a range of exterior places and spaces including mixed-use, residential, master-planning, workplace, commercial, public realm, leisure, meanwhile use, and town centres.
The Role
A strategic senior leadership opportunity for a commercially astute and entrepreneurial Landscape Architect who can lead and grow the Manchester office, win new work and make an immediate impact.
The successful candidate will ideally already be operating at Associate Director level, although an exceptional Associate or Senior Associate with the right commercial, leadership and work-winning capability will also be considered.
Work winning is fundamental to this appointment. You will be responsible for identifying new opportunities, developing relationships, targeting new markets and converting opportunities into profitable work, with an ambition to build a pipeline of approximately £1 million per annum.
You will lead and inspire the Manchester team, providing clear direction, developing talent and creating a confident, outward-facing office culture. You will work closely with senior Directors in London while having the autonomy to shape the Manchester business plan and play a significant role in its future growth.
You will complement the existing Manchester leadership team and play an important role in the longer-term succession planning of the office, with a genuine pathway towards Associate Director, Director and potentially Board-level responsibility.
You will be required to be an office presence in Manchester four days per week. This role is not suited to candidates seeking a predominantly remote or part time arrangement.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading and developing the Manchester office and wider Landscape Architecture team
- Managing, mentoring and developing Landscape Architects across all levels of seniority
- Building an outward-facing, commercially focused culture within the Manchester office
- Developing and implementing a business development strategy across Manchester, the North and wider regional markets
- Identifying market gaps and proactively targeting new clients, sectors and opportunities
- Winning new business and developing a pipeline, ideally around £1 million per annum, or demonstrating the ambition and ability to reach this
- Building and maintaining relationships with developers, housebuilders, local authorities, social landlords and other strategic clients and partners
- Representing the practice through industry events, networking, speaking opportunities and client engagement
- Preparing bids, fee proposals and tenders, and leading fee negotiations
- Working with senior Directors to convert opportunities and maximise profitable new business
- Developing existing client relationships and generating repeat business
- Managing project profitability, fees, resourcing and commercial performance to achieve targets
- Leading and overseeing significant UK and international Landscape Architecture projects
- Providing design and technical leadership across relevant RIBA work stages
- Leading project meetings, client presentations and key stakeholder discussions
- Ensuring projects are delivered to a consistently high standard, on time and within budget
- Supporting recruitment and the continued growth of the Manchester team
- Supporting professional development through mentoring, coaching, CPDs and training
- Supporting the Manchester office business plan and longer-term growth strategy
- Playing a key role in the long-term succession and leadership development of the Manchester office
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Requirements
Essential
- CMLI-qualified Landscape Architect
- Approximately 15 years’ demonstrable experience within Landscape Architecture
- Experience of successfully leading and managing teams across significant UK and international projects
- Experience of working across relevant RIBA work stages
- A proven track record of winning new business and developing client relationships
- The ability to build towards approximately £1 million per annum in new business pipeline
- Strong commercial awareness, including fee proposals, negotiations, project profitability and resource management
- An entrepreneurial and proactive approach to business development and growth
- Strong people management skills, including the confidence to provide direction, manage performance and have challenging conversations when required
- Excellent communication, networking and relationship-building skills
- The confidence and energy to represent the practice externally and build its profile in Manchester and the wider region
- Experience of managing client relationships and developing repeat business
- Strong organisational and leadership skills, encouraging collaboration and innovation within teams
- Proficiency with computer applications commonly used within the individual’s discipline
- Working knowledge of Revit
- Degree in Landscape Architecture, a related design field or equivalent certification/skill level
- Able to be an office presence in Manchester four days per week
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Desirable
- Existing client and industry network across Manchester, the North or wider UK
- Existing Associate Director or Director-level experience
- Experience across sectors such as housing, masterplanning, infrastructure, commercial, science, tourism or public sector development
- Experience of speaking, networking or representing a practice at industry events
What’s In It For You
- Salary of £60,000–£75,000 depending on experience and work-winning capability
- Performance-related bonus/reward linked to business performance and profitable work won
- Long-term EOT profit-share opportunity
- Genuine progression towards Associate Director, Director and potentially Board-level responsibility
- The opportunity to take a leading role in shaping and growing the Manchester office
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service, with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days
- 8% pension contribution following three months’ service
- Formal onboarding and training programme with mentoring and support from senior Directors
- The opportunity to work alongside an ambitious, collaborative and supportive senior team
- A genuine opportunity to make your mark on the future growth and success of the Manchester office
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