Architectural Design Assurance Lead

About Ethos

Ethos is a collaborative team of engineers, consultants, and creative thinkers designing and delivering data centre and energy infrastructure across the world's most dynamic markets. As a multidisciplinary consultancy, we combine technical expertise, creativity, and integrated delivery to lead complex, mission-critical projects.

Built on strong relationships, clear leadership, and a can-do mindset, Ethos is entering an exciting phase of growth, expanding our capabilities and taking on increasingly high-impact projects across EMEA and beyond.

Sustainability guides how we design, collaborate, and deliver, creating innovative solutions and lasting value for our clients and communities — making Performance Made Possible.

About the Job

The Architectural Design Assurance Lead is a senior technical role within the Programme Management Team. You will provide independent architectural design assurance across our programme-managed Data Centre projects throughout Europe.

The Programme Management Team manages and coordinates the multidisciplinary design process to ensure that project deliverables, scope and programme requirements are achieved at each project stage. The team also oversees compliance with client governance requirements and ensures that project deliverables meet the required technical, quality and assurance standards.

You will provide independent peer review of architectural designs prepared by our external architectural partners at each applicable RIBA Stage, ensuring that designs are technically robust, coordinated, practical and aligned with client governance requirements, project requirements, agreed design standards and applicable local regulatory requirements.

This is an assurance and review function rather than a design production role. You will identify design issues, risks, gaps and non-conformances and communicate them clearly to the responsible architectural consultant, who remains responsible for amending and developing the design. The role does not assume responsibility for the production, amendment or ownership of the architectural design; design responsibility, professional liability and responsibility for local statutory compliance and certification remain with the appointed architectural consultant and relevant local design professionals. You will subsequently review the revised information to confirm that each issue has been appropriately addressed. This distinction is fundamental to the role and to the governance of the Programme Management function.

Responsibilities:

• Undertake independent peer reviews of architectural designs across programme-managed projects at each relevant RIBA Stage.

• Review architectural design deliverables for completeness, technical quality, coordination and compliance with the agreed project scope and design requirements.

• Assess designs against client technical standards, governance requirements, employer’s requirements, design briefs and project-specific criteria.

• Identify design deficiencies, coordination issues, omissions, risks and non-conformances before deliverables are issued to the client.

• Ensure architectural solutions demonstrate sound design principles, practicality, constructability, maintainability and appropriate consideration of the operational requirements of mission-critical facilities.

• Challenge designs where appropriate and provide clear, technically reasoned feedback to the responsible architectural consultant.

• Verify that comments and non-conformances identified during previous reviews have been satisfactorily addressed prior to subsequent design stage approvals.

• RIBA Stage 2 – Concept Design: review the overall architectural concept and design strategy, spatial planning, building arrangement, circulation, access and functional adjacencies, and alignment with client design standards and project requirements, identifying major design risks or constraints that could affect later project stages.

• RIBA Stage 3 – Spatial Coordination: review the development and coordination of the architectural design, including interfaces with structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, fire, security and other specialist disciplines, and plant access, maintenance access, equipment replacement routes and operational circulation where relevant.

• RIBA Stage 4 – Technical Design: undertake detailed review of architectural drawings, specifications, schedules and technical information, assessing technical detailing, interfaces, coordination and design completeness prior to construction issue, and identifying outstanding technical issues, discrepancies or coordination risks.

• RIBA Stage 5 – Manufacturing and Construction: review design changes or technical submissions that materially affect the architectural design intent, provide architectural assurance support on significant construction-stage design matters where required, and review proposed departures from the approved design or client standards, advising the Programme Management Team of associated risks.

• Ensure architectural design deliverables comply with the client’s project governance processes and technical assurance requirements.

• Support the Programme Management Team in maintaining consistent design quality across multiple projects, architectural consultants and programme-managed accounts.

• Ensure reviews are completed in accordance with agreed Quality Assurance procedures and project gateways.

• Maintain clear and auditable records of design reviews, comments, responses and close-out.

• Ensure significant design risks and unresolved non-conformances are escalated to the Programme Management Client Partner.

• Support continuous improvement of design assurance processes, review templates, checklists and technical standards.

• Review designs for alignment with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, based on information and advice provided by the appointed architectural and local compliance partners.

• Confirm that local regulatory requirements identified by the appointed design team have been incorporated into the architectural design.

• Identify apparent omissions, inconsistencies or risks relating to regulatory compliance and request clarification or corrective action from the responsible consultant.

• Review architectural interfaces with all major engineering disciplines, including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, security and specialist systems, identifying multidisciplinary coordination issues that may affect design quality, constructability or programme.

• Work closely with Programme Managers, Design Managers, Engineering Leads and external consultants to drive timely resolution of design issues.

• Participate in design reviews, coordination meetings and technical workshops where required.

• Provide senior architectural input into key design decisions and programme-level technical discussions.

About You

• A senior architectural professional who is comfortable acting as an independent reviewer of designs produced by other experienced professionals.

• Someone who communicates technical concerns clearly, objectively and constructively.

• Someone who understands that this is an assurance and review role, not a design production role.

Experience & Qualifications

• Qualified Architect with a recognised architectural qualification.

• Registered Architect or eligible for professional registration within the relevant jurisdiction.

• Minimum 10 years’ post-qualification architectural design experience.

• Strong experience in the design and delivery of complex technical buildings.

• Demonstrable experience reviewing architectural design information across multiple project stages.

• Experience identifying and managing technical design risks.

• Data Centre, mission critical or manufacturing experience would be desirable.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of the RIBA Plan of Work and associated design stages.

• Excellent understanding of multidisciplinary design coordination.

• Strong knowledge of architectural detailing, specifications, design standards and construction methodologies.

• Ability to critically review designs produced by other experienced professionals.

Soft Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to communicate technical concerns clearly, objectively and constructively.

Why Join Us?

• Join collaborative leaders – Work alongside experienced, approachable professionals who combine technical excellence with calm, supportive leadership.

• Make a real impact – Contribute to mission-critical infrastructure projects that support the digital and energy transition across EMEA and beyond.

• Grow with us – As a rapidly growing consultancy, we offer opportunities to develop your skills, broaden your experience, and build your career.

• Shape a more sustainable future – Sustainability isn't an initiative—it's embedded in every project, every discipline, and every decision we make.

We offer:

• Flexible Fridays and a 9-day fortnight working schedule — enjoy every second Friday off to maintain work–life balance.

• A culture that values flexibility, learning, and teamwork, with clear progression pathways and support toward professional accreditation.

• Opportunities to work alongside some of the most experienced engineers in the industry, within a forward-thinking, technology-driven consultancy.

Benefits:

• Flexible working times

• 20 Days holidays up to 25 days

• Pension Scheme

• Refer a Friend scheme

• Gym / Fitness membership Allowance

• Subsidised Health Insurance Allowance

• Healthcare check-ups and flu vaccinations

• Working travel out-of-pocket expenses

• Travel tax scheme or bike-to-work scheme

• Regular training/mentoring / further college support

• Support for Chartership

• A Professional Subscription Fee paid by the company

• Paid Statutory Leaves

• Heavily subsidised social committee

Recruitment Agencies: Please do not reply to this job advert. Should Ethos require assistance with this posting you will be contacted by our Talent Acquisition Team.