Entrepreneurial Architect, Design or Interiors Manager

Entrepreneurial Design Manager – Residential Design \& Construction

Entrepreneurial Architectural Designer – Design, Construction \& Business Development

Location: North West London / Hybrid
Role: Full\-time
Compensation: Base salary \+ significant performance/profit\-related compensation, with potential future equity
Right to work: Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK

Help Us Build Something New

This is not a conventional architectural position.

We are looking for someone who can design well, but who also thinks commercially and wants to help build and develop a business, rather than simply work within an existing architectural role.

Our aim is to combine architectural and interior design, real construction knowledge, estimating, procurement, technology and AI to create a better way of helping homeowners plan and deliver high\-quality residential projects.

We want someone who sees this and thinks “I can help build this”, not simply “I can do the drawings.”

What We Want to Develop1\. Improve \& Scale Our Existing Design Capability

Our construction and bespoke joinery businesses already require considerable design input.

We want to improve the quality, consistency and efficiency of this work while developing a design capability that can scale up and down depending on project demand.

This could involve a combination of:

• Internal design capability


• Freelancers and specialist consultants


• Offshore design resources


• AI and automation


• Better templates, standards, details and workflows

We are interested in someone who can think about how to build and manage this capability, rather than assuming every problem requires another permanent employee.

2\. Develop Architectural \& Interior Design Services

We want to become involved with homeowners earlier in their projects.

Rather than first meeting a client when they are looking for a builder or joinery contractor, we want to help them from the initial stages – understanding their requirements, developing the design, navigating planning and technical requirements and making informed decisions about scope, quality and cost.

This could develop into a significant architectural and interior design consultancy in its own right.

3\. Create a Better Way for Homeowners to Deliver Renovation Projects

Larger residential renovations can require a complicated team of architects, designers, structural engineers, Building Regulations specialists, builders, kitchen companies, joinery companies, suppliers and trades.

Homeowners often struggle to understand who they need, what information should be produced, what things should cost and how to compare different proposals properly.

We want to explore services and potentially a platform that help homeowners build and manage the right team for their project.

This could include better ways of helping clients understand:

• Design and planning requirements


• Structural engineering


• Building Regulations and technical specifications


• What information should exist before construction starts


• Tender documentation and scope


• How to obtain and compare building quotations


• Project management and communication


• Variations and change control


• Procurement and sourcing


• Quality standards and expected deliverables

The objective is greater transparency and better information before and during construction, reducing the ambiguity that causes many residential projects to experience cost, quality and communication problems.

4\. Develop Better Estimating \& Cost Tools

We already have estimating knowledge and tools that we want to develop considerably further.

Our aim is to understand and communicate cost throughout the whole lifecycle of a project – from early design and planning through construction and ultimately second\-fix and interior items such as:

• Kitchens


• Bathrooms


• Flooring


• Bespoke joinery


• Lighting and electrical


• Fixtures, finishes and materials

We are particularly interested in understanding and communicating the relationship between design, quality and cost.

Different products can satisfy the same functional requirement while having dramatically different implications for aesthetics, quality, detailing, procurement and budget.

We want to help clients understand these trade\-offs much earlier.

5\. Use AI \& Technology Intelligently

We believe AI will significantly change residential design and construction, and we want to actively explore how to use it.

This could include developing tools, prompts and workflows that help homeowners:

• Create better project briefs


• Explore design ideas


• Develop more logical and buildable schemes


• Understand likely cost implications


• Identify missing information


• Prepare better information for designers and contractors


• Compare specifications and quotations


• Make better\-informed decisions

It could also include using AI internally to improve design production, estimating, documentation, project information and communication.

We are not looking for an AI engineer. We are looking for someone curious enough to identify where technology can genuinely make the design and construction process better.

What You Would Be Doing

This is deliberately a broad role.

You could be involved in architectural and interior design, client meetings, planning and technical drawings, construction detailing, estimating, product research, developing systems, coordinating external design resources, experimenting with AI tools, developing new services and helping generate new business.

As the business develops, we expect the role to develop with it.

Who We Are Looking For

You may currently be a Part 2 Architectural Assistant, Architectural Designer, Interior Architect or residential designer.

ARB registration is welcome but not essential.

You should have strong design ability and a good understanding of residential architecture, UK planning and Building Regulations.

However, your mindset is at least as important to us as your qualifications.

We are particularly interested in someone who:

• Understands and enjoys residential design


• Is interested in how things are actually constructed


• Thinks about cost and buildability while designing


• Has an interest in interiors, materials and product specification


• Can communicate confidently with homeowners


• Is commercially curious


• Is interested in technology and AI


• Can develop systems and processes rather than simply follow them


• Is comfortable coordinating freelancers, consultants and external resources


• Can identify opportunities and turn ideas into practical services


• Wants to help create and grow something

This Is a Business\-Building Opportunity

There will be a base salary, but this opportunity is unlikely to suit someone whose main priority is maximising their guaranteed salary.

We want someone who is motivated by the opportunity to help create something valuable and participate in that value.

A significant part of the potential compensation will therefore be linked to performance, business generated and the value you help create.

As the business develops, there may also be opportunities for profit participation and potentially equity.

If you are looking primarily for a conventional architectural position with a defined list of responsibilities and predictable salary progression, this probably isn't the right role.

If you want greater responsibility, autonomy and commercial upside – and the opportunity to influence what the business becomes – we would like to hear from you.

How to Apply – Please Read Carefully

We will not consider CV\-only applications or standard covering letters.

We want applicants to demonstrate that they have understood the opportunity and thought about what they could contribute.

Please send:

1\. Your CV

2\. Your portfolio

Please include work demonstrating your design ability, technical understanding and quality of presentation.

3\. A One\-Page Vision

Please prepare a simple one\-page strategy / vision document explaining how you would approach this opportunity.

We want to understand how you think, what you would bring and what you would actually do.

You could address questions such as:

• Which of the ideas above do you think have the greatest potential?


• What would you prioritise during your first 3–6 months?


• How would you improve and scale our existing design capability?


• How would you bring us into residential projects earlier?


• How could we make the design and construction process better for homeowners?


• Where would you use AI, technology, freelancers or offshore resources?


• How could we improve estimating and cost transparency?


• How would you turn these ideas into commercially successful services?


• What ideas or opportunities have we not considered?


• What would you personally bring that would help make this successful?

You do not need to address every question and we are not looking for a detailed business plan.

We would rather read one page containing three genuinely good ideas than five pages of generic content.

Please make it your own work.

We are specifically not looking for an AI\-generated strategy or a generic cover letter rewritten to match this job description.

We are interested in your own judgement, ideas and experience. It does not need to be beautifully written or professionally formatted.

You are welcome to disagree with our ideas. If you think something will not work, or that there is a better opportunity we should pursue instead, tell us.

Independent thinking is more valuable to us than telling us what you think we want to hear.

Important

If you are not prepared to take the time to understand the opportunity and prepare the one\-page vision, please do not apply.

Applications without a portfolio and one\-page vision should not expect a response.

This requirement is inten

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