Senior/Principal Designer (Landscape Architect / Architect) – Freelance

Gillespies LLP — Senior / Principal Designer (Landscape Architect / Architect) – Freelance / Contract Role

About the opportunity

Gillespies LLP is a leading landscape architecture, masterplanning and urban design studio with a strong reputation for delivering responsibly designed, transformative, and award-winning environments that enhance people’s lives.

We collaborate with forward-thinking clients on pioneering projects across the UK and internationally, shaping places that support healthier, more inclusive and sustainable communities.

We are committed to advancing nature-led urbanism, integrating landscape, architecture and urban systems to create resilient and meaningful places for the future.

We are seeking a highly talented Senior or Principal-level designer (Landscape Architect or Architect background welcome) to join us on a freelance / contract basis, contributing to design leadership, project delivery and creative development within our studio.

Role overview

You will play a key role in leading design thinking, supporting project teams, and contributing to the development and delivery of complex projects from concept through to construction.

This role is suitable for experienced designers who are confident operating across scales, from strategic design thinking to detailed implementation.

Key responsibilities may include:

• Leading or supporting design development across concept, planning and technical stages
  • Producing high-quality drawings, diagrams, visualisations and presentation materials
  • Guiding assistants and mentoring junior team members
  • Contributing to client discussions, workshops and design reviews
  • Supporting project coordination, tender preparation and construction-stage design input
  • Working across multidisciplinary teams on UK and international projects
  • Supporting research, precedent analysis and material exploration

Design, digital and innovation capability

We are particularly interested in candidates who are passionate about the evolving relationship between design and technology.

You should demonstrate interest and experience in:

• Emerging digital design tools and AI-assisted workflows
  • Visualisation, data-informed design research and design optimisation
  • Integration of digital methods into concept generation and delivery processes
  • Supporting studio learning and mentoring others in improved digital practice

Freelance working considerations

This is a freelance / contract role. Candidates should therefore be able to confirm:

• Professional Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance coverage appropriate to freelance design work
• Familiarity with industry-standard design tools used in landscape and architectural practice
• Access to your own laptop and business licensed core design software

Software list :

Essential

• Adobe Creative Cloud (with access to Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator as a minimum)
• Microsoft 365 or Studio 2019 with MS Teams.
• AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT

Desirable based on project requirements

• Autodesk Revit
• Autodesk Navisworks & Manager
• ArcGIS Desktop Pro
• Autodesk Civil 3D
• Sketch-up Pro
• Google Earth Pro
• NBS Chorus
• Rhino

What we are looking for

Experience and qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of professional experience in landscape architecture, architecture, or related design fields
  • Degree and postgraduate qualification in landscape architecture, architecture, or equivalent design discipline
  • Professional accreditation such as CMLI (or equivalent international qualification) is desirable but not essential

Portfolio and technical capability

Your portfolio should demonstrate a broad range of work, including:

• Conceptual design and sketch development
  • Detailed technical design and construction-stage output (for external works)
  • Experience delivering projects through planning, tender or site stages
  • Work within UK practice context is highly advantageous

Software and communication skills

• Strong proficiency in CAD-based design workflows (e.g. AutoCAD or equivalent)
  • Excellent working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and 3D design tools such as SketchUp, Revit and BIM
  • Excellent written and spoken English communication

Leadership and collaboration

• Ability to contribute to or lead complex design tasks
  • Experience guiding or mentoring junior team members
  • Confidence engaging with clients, contractors and multidisciplinary consultants

Personal qualities

• Creative and strategic design thinker
  • Curious about new design approaches and emerging technologies
  • Resilient, adaptable and proactive
  • Passionate about high-quality landscape and place-led design
  • Self-motivated with strong professional judgement

How to apply

If you believe you are a good match for this opportunity, please submit your CV and portfolio using the Apply For This Job button above.