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Hays

Senior Architect - Education

Manchester
£45k – £55k/yr
Posted about 19 hours ago
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Your new company

A leading multidisciplinary design practice looking for a talented Senior Architect to join their established Education team in Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the design and delivery of innovative higher education projects, working within a collaborative team environment and contributing to a growing portfolio of education-sector work.

Your new role

Reporting directly to the Architect Director leading the Manchester education team, you will take a senior position within the practice, leading design development, engaging directly with clients and helping to shape innovative learning environments across a range of higher education projects.

Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, you will be involved in developing creative design solutions, guiding projects through the design process and supporting the successful delivery of high-quality architectural outcomes. You will also play an active role in client engagement, stakeholder consultation and mentoring junior team members.

What you'll need to succeed

To be considered, you will be a highly motivated Architect with experience delivering education-sector projects and a passion for creating inspiring learning environments.

You will be able to demonstrate:

  • Experience designing education buildings, including universities, further education facilities or schools.
  • Strong concept design skills with a portfolio that showcases innovative education spaces, estate masterplans and design leadership across project stages.
  • Excellent visual, written and verbal presentation skills, particularly for strategic studies and early-stage design work.
  • Experience working with education-sector clients and contributing to multi-stakeholder consultation processes.
  • The ability to build strong relationships and lead clients through briefing and early design phases.
  • Strong coordination and collaboration skills, with experience mentoring and supporting junior colleagues.
  • Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to agreed programmes.
  • Knowledge of current trends and legislation within the UK higher education sector.
  • Confidence using BIM tools, including Revit, alongside 3D visualisation software and an interest in design innovation.
  • The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly through reports, presentations, diagrams and technical drawings.
  • Experience of university estate strategies, campus master planning and international higher education projects would be advantageous but is not essential.

Reasons to use Rodeo

I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

Start with a chat, not a search bar

Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.

P

Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

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It searches the market for you

Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.

Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

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Strong

Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

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Strong

Only hits

No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.

What you'll get in return

In return, you will join an internationally recognised design practice with a strong reputation for delivering impactful and people-centred architecture. You'll benefit from a collaborative culture that supports professional development through mentoring, annual appraisals, professional sponsorship and ongoing CPD opportunities.

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A competitive salary and benefits package is available, including:

  • Employee profit share scheme
  • Private medical insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Long-term sickness insurance
  • Tax-efficient benefits
  • Interest-free season ticket loans
  • Health screening
  • Holiday buy and swap options
  • Enhanced maternity and paternity benefits
  • Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities

You'll also have the opportunity to take part in a variety of social, wellbeing, sporting and charitable initiatives, contributing to an inclusive and engaging working environment.

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

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Location

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

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