Seeking an Architect:
A Meeting of Minds in the South Downs
Location: Near Midhurst, South Downs (Studio Based)
Type: Full-time or Part-time (Flexible)
Salary: Dependent on Experience
Application Deadline: Friday, 20th March
At George & James, we create backdrops for modern life. Whether we’re breathing new energy into a heritage property or crafting a contemporary new build, our work is defined by clarity, light, and a genuine passion for detail. You can see the stories we’ve told so far at www.georgeandjames.co.uk.
We are looking for a fellow architect to join us in our studio in the heart of the South Downs. Whether you are newly qualified or have years of experience, we are more interested in your character, your design eye, and your craft than your years on the clock. We value talent over a standard working week, so we are very open to both full-time and part-time applications.
The Role: Taking the Reins
This isn’t just about filling a seat; it’s a chance for our practice to grow and for all of us to absorb new ideas. We want to learn from you, and we hope you’ll learn from us.
You’ll need to hit the ground running, picking up the reins of our residential projects and taking ownership from the first sketch to the final site visit. You’ll be a doer as well as a thinker, as comfortable chatting with builders on-site as you are guiding our clients through the big decisions in the studio.
You’ll steer projects through our 4 D’s process:
- Discover: Listening intently to uncover a client’s aspirations and turning them into a solid strategy.
- Design: Creating narratives through light, landscape, and form.
- Detail: Applying technical rigour to ensure the design is buildable, beautiful, and safe in every sense.
- Deliver: Managing the construction phase with the calm authority our clients rely on.
Who we’re looking for
We need a self-starter, someone charismatic enough to engage with clients and confident enough to own their work.
- The Charismatic Communicator: Residential architecture is deeply personal. You need to be a people person and a great listener who can guide clients through the emotional journey of building a home with empathy and clarity.
- The Creative Problem Solver: You have a natural instinct for how a building sits in its context. You use creative thinking to navigate complex site constraints, turning problems into elegant design opportunities that balance beauty with practical rigour.
- The Design-Led Technician: You believe that design doesn’t stop at planning. To you, technical detailing and specifications are a creative act, the way we ensure the craft of the building is actually realised.
- The Toolset: We use Vectorworks, but we care more about your architectural eye than your software history. If you’re proficient in other CAD platforms, SketchUp, and the Adobe Suite, we can teach you our specific workflow. What matters is your ability to get your ideas across, whether through a 3D model or a hand-drawn sketch.
Why George & James?
We believe that the best work comes from a rested and inspired mind. We are a human-centric team that genuinely prioritises life outside the studio.
- The 9-Day Fortnight: We currently operate a 9-day fortnight (working 9 days out of 10 for full pay) and are actively moving toward a full 4-day work week.
- The Environment: Our studio is in the heart of the South Downs. It’s a place of clarity and quiet, though it is off the beaten track, so you’ll need your own transport to get here.
- Growth: We want this to be a place where you can refine your skills, help us improve our processes, and genuinely shape the future of the practice.
How to Apply
We want to hear your authentic voice before we see a CV.
Please call us on 01730 233 314 and leave a voicemail (max 60 seconds). Tell us:
- Who you are.
- Why you want to join George & James.
- Why you are the architect we’ve been looking for.
Please clearly leave your name, phone number, and email address at the end of the message. If we resonate with your voice, we’ll call you back for the next steps.
Deadline for voicemails: Friday, 20th March.
