Design Director - Architecture

Design Director – Architecture

Lead design excellence and shape the future of cities and places with Jacobs. Jacobs is looking for a Design Director – Architecture to join our Cities & Places team in Sydney, taking a leading role in shaping the future of our built environment. This position covers the entire project lifecycle from early bidding and concept development through to construction completion requiring strategic oversight and a commitment to design excellence. You'll set the vision, influence design strategy, and work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver landmark projects that make a lasting impact.

In this role, you'll champion design leadership across complex architectural projects, ensuring quality and innovation from inception to delivery. You'll collaborate with diverse teams, foster creativity, and engage directly with clients to translate their aspirations into actionable design solutions. Beyond project delivery, you'll help define Jacobs' design philosophy, advance sustainability objectives, and strengthen our market presence. Your contribution will also extend to business development, supporting bids and building relationships that position Jacobs as a leader in NSW and across the region.

• Impact at Scale: Work on landmark projects that define Cities and Places, from cutting-edge facilities to transformative precincts.
• Design Excellence: Collaborate with industry leaders and contribute to a culture that champions innovation.
• Vision Realisation: Influence design strategy, guide conceptual vision, and see your ideas come to life across diverse sectors.
• Growth & Mentorship: Access global expertise, structured career development, and opportunities to lead multidisciplinary teams. Mentor emerging designers and shape the next generation of talent.
• Influence Strategy: Contribute to Jacobs' design philosophy, sustainability objectives, and market positioning.
• Engage Clients: Build meaningful relationships with our clients to push boundaries and lead projects that matter with solutions that make a difference.

Here's what you'll need:

• A passionate architect with strong conceptual and technical design skills.
• Proven leadership in complex architectural projects and multidisciplinary environments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NSW and Commonwealth planning pathways, including State Significant Development processes, Design Excellence Guidelines, Connecting with Country framework, and prior engagement with the State Design Review Panel.
• Excellent communication and client engagement skills with the ability to inspire and lead teams.
• Registered Architect with NSW ARB and relevant tertiary qualifications.

At Jacobs, you'll join a global leader in design and engineering, working on projects that shape sustainable, liveable cities. We offer flexible working arrangements, a culture of inclusion, and limitless opportunities for career growth whether you aspire to lead projects, influence design strategy, or expand into global leadership roles. Bring your expertise, creativity, and vision to help us deliver solutions that make a difference.