Job Description

Senior Architect — Competition Bids

West London | Full-time | £55,000 – £65,000

HAUS is partnering with a prestigious, design-centric architectural studio in West London to find a Senior Architect specializing in international competition bids. This is a high-impact role for a designer with sharp conceptual instincts and a proven ability to lead successful submissions on a global scale.

The studio is celebrated for its highly crafted, socially impactful architecture across cultural, commercial, and mixed-use sectors. As they expand their international profile, they need a senior leader to drive design narratives and spatial strategies from the earliest inception of a bid.

The Role

Lead International Bids: Take ownership of the development and delivery of major global competition entries.
Conceptual Leadership: Drive architectural narratives and spatial strategies from Day 1.
Design Oversight: Produce and manage top-tier design materials, including diagrams, presentation packs, and technical drawings.
Strategic Collaboration: Work directly with Directors to shape bid strategy and overall design direction.
Team Coordination: Manage input from internal teams and specialist consultants during intense competition phases.
Project Transition: Support the hand-off of winning bids to live project teams to ensure design intent is maintained.

About You

Senior Architect Status: Significant experience specifically within international architectural competitions.
Software Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, and Revit (essential).
Sector Experience: A portfolio featuring cultural, commercial, or large-scale mixed-use projects.
Fast-Paced Professional: Comfortable working under tight deadlines with multiple design iterations.
Elite Presenter: Capable of producing competition-level visuals and communicating complex ideas to senior stakeholders.

Job Data Table

Category	Details
Company	HAUS Careers (Client: Design-led Practice)
Location	West London, United Kingdom
Job Type	Full-time
Salary Range	£55,000 – £65,000
Focus Area	International Competitions
Primary Software	Revit, Rhino, Adobe Suite
Sectors	Cultural, Commercial, Mixed-Use
Benefits	Private healthcare, Performance bonuses, Clear progression

Skills & Competency Table

Skill	Competency Level
Concept Design	Expert
Rhino 3D	Expert
Revit	Advanced (Required)
Adobe Creative Suite	Expert
Bid Strategy	Advanced
Architectural Narratives	Expert
Spatial Strategy	Advanced

Salaries Pay Calculator Table

Component	Amount	Notes
Annual Salary	£55,000 – £65,000	Reflects senior-level competition expertise
Bonus	Performance-related	Based on studio success and bid wins
Total Compensation	£60,000 – £75,000+	Includes pension, healthcare, and potential bonuses
Market Context	Top Percentile	Higher end of London Senior Architect scale

Job Summary

This Senior Architect role is a “front-end” specialist position. Unlike delivery-focused roles, your success is measured by the quality of your concepts and the success rate of your bids. You will be the engine room for the studio’s growth, translating complex briefs into winning, world-class architectural designs.

FAQs

How much travel is involved? While based in West London, leading international bids may require occasional travel for site visits or presentation to global juries.

Is Revit strictly necessary for a concept role? Yes. While Rhino is the primary tool for form-finding, the studio uses Revit to ensure competition wins can be seamlessly integrated into their delivery pipeline.

What is the “Duvet Day” benefit? HAUS mentioned benefits often include a “Duvet Day”—one extra day off per year for personal wellbeing, no questions asked.

What is the studio culture like? It is described as collaborative, supportive, and socially engaged, with a strong emphasis on “crafted” architecture rather than mass-produced designs.

Is there a path to Associate? Yes, the role explicitly highlights clear progression routes and long-term career development.

Expert Analysis

The competition-bid specialist is a high-pressure but high-reward niche. In London’s top-tier firms, these roles are the “think tanks” of the practice. With a salary ceiling of £65k, this role sits comfortably at the top of the Senior Architect bracket (where the median is closer to £53k), reflecting the specialized skill set required to win international work.

Location & Logistics Guide

The studio is located in West London, an area home to global design powerhouses like Foster + Partners and Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. This provides an elite professional context with excellent connections to the West End and Heathrow for international project travel.

City Wikipedia: London

Career Path

Successful bid leads often transition into Design Director or Partner roles, as they are directly responsible for the firm’s revenue and “design DNA.” Alternatively, you could specialize further as a Head of Design or move into high-level design consultancy.

To apply for this job please visit hauscareers.com.