Technical Director

Location: Hybrid / London, UK
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Architecture | Architecture
Salary: Negotiable Salary

The Technical Director will provide strategic and hands‑on leadership across the practice’s technical delivery, ensuring the highest standards of design resolution, compliance, buildability, and contractual risk management. The role combines technical excellence with team leadership, contributing to the practice’s reputation, efficiency, and commercial success.

Purcell is an award‑winning employee‑owned architectural and heritage consultancy practice with a commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity. We have staff of approximately 300 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Winners of Architect Employer of the Year 2022.

Collaboration is central to our employee‑ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee‑owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice. We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment.

It is our distinctive employee‑owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

• Agile, flexible and hybrid working, (a minimum of 3 days in office, up to 2 days WFH)
• Annual leave increasing with long service
• Life assurance
• Study sponsorship with paid study leave
• Employee assistance programme
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Virtual GP service
• Company day out
• Enhanced learning & development opportunities.

• Lead, set and maintain best‑practice standards and compliance for technical design, detailing, specifications, and documentation.
• Act as a senior technical authority, providing guidance on complex design, construction, and compliance matters.
• Ensure consistency of technical standards, processes, procedures and quality across the practice.
• Lead, direct and support key architectural support teams including BIM, Technical Leadership Group, Specifications writing, BRPD and CDM PD.

• Provide support to our senior leaders responsible for delivering from RIBA Stage 2 onwards, with particular focus on RIBA Stages 3–5.
• Set standards and undertake ad‑hoc reviews to educate and ensure compliance for all key technical outputs, including drawings, specifications, and schedules.
• For key projects ensure we have appropriate and consistent processes to properly manage coordination with consultants, contractors, and specialist subcontractors.
• Provide support and ensure we have processes and procedures in place to proactively manage technical risk, value engineering, and design change.

• Work closely with our contractual lead to ensure timely reviews on all bid stage and secured contract agreements.
• Assist in any difficult contractual negotiations to finalise project agreements.
• Facilitate timely advice and responses to contractual matters.
• Engage and support on any claims that we receive at project level.

• Work with the Business Management team to champion robust QA procedures, technical audits, and lessons‑learned reviews.
• Ensure projects comply with UK Building Regulations, British Standards, planning conditions, and statutory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of evolving legislation, including Building Safety Act requirements and gateway processes.

• Assist in developing and mentoring technical staff across all levels.
• Direct and support the development of office‑wide technical processes, BIM standards, and digital workflows.
• Support bids, tenders, and interviews by providing technical input and strategy.
• Represent the practice externally with clients, contractors, and industry bodies.
• Line‑man…