Sustainable Design Leader

Company Description

With eight design studios worldwide, chances are you've encountered our work. We specialise in architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and urban design. Our diverse, multi-disciplinary team brings together a wealth of skills and perspectives that unlock the economic, social, and cultural potential of projects.

Across our studios we connect insight and creativity, creating a better future by designing the world’s best places – places people love, is what drives us.

At Hassell, we're dedicated to sustainability and regenerative design. Our designers play a pivotal role in shaping a better future for communities and our planet. Join us in making a lasting impact.

Job Description

As Sustainable Design Leader, you will play a senior role in advancing Hassell’s sustainability and regenerative design agenda across both project delivery and global practice development.

This role is deliberately structured as:

• ~70% project-facing leadership, embedded in live projects, client engagement, and design teams
• ~30% global strategy and practice contribution, helping shape frameworks, capability, positioning and influence across the practice

• You will work closely with the Head of Sustainability, Heads of Design, studio leadership, and the global Sustainability Team to both deliver exemplary outcomes on projects and evolve the way Hassell operates globally. While all Sustainable Design Leaders are expected to operate as strong generalists across sustainability, regenerative design and project leadership, this roles will particularly value expertise and leadership in:
• Social Value (equity, inclusion, community benefit, stakeholder outcomes, social impact frameworks, SROI methodologies, social procurement); and/or
• Resilience & Adaptation (climate risk, future climate conditions, systems resilience, long-term performance, adaptation strategies)

What You’ll Do:

Project Leadership (approx. 70%)

• Lead and embed sustainability and regenerative design thinking within project teams from early strategy through delivery.
• Partner with project leaders and design teams to shape project direction, not just performance outcomes.
• Bring specialist leadership in social value or resilience & adaptation to complex projects and client briefs.
• Translate technical sustainability knowledge into clear, compelling design and value-based propositions.
• Influence clients, consultants and stakeholders toward higher ambition and more holistic outcomes.
• Support major pursuits and proposals by articulating Hassell’s sustainability and value-creation approach.

Global Practice & Strategy Contribution (approx. 30%)

• Work with the global Sustainability Team to evolve Hassell’s Sustainability Framework, regenerative design methodologies and value-creation approaches.
• Contribute to global capability building — including learning programs, tools, guidance, resources and communities of practice.
• Help shape Hassell’s external positioning on sustainability, regenerative design, social value and/or resilience.
• Share insights and lessons from projects to continuously improve frameworks and practice-wide approaches.
• Represent Hassell in industry forums, thought leadership, partnerships and advocacy where appropriate.
• Engage with Heads of Design, the Operations Executive and Board to support the long-term strategic ambition, capability and capacity of the practice.

Qualifications

About You

You are a senior practitioner who is equally comfortable in the detail of projects and in the strategic conversations shaping the future of practice. You bring deep expertise, but also the openness, humility and adaptability required to embed that expertise within Hassell’s design culture.

You understand that impact comes not through authority alone, but through trust, influence, collaboration and credibility. You are motivated to make others want to integrate sustainability and regenerative thinking into their work — not because they have to, but because they see its value.

You bring:

• Significant experience across the built environment, with a strong portfolio of impact.
• Proven leadership in delivering best-practice sustainability and regenerative outcomes on real projects.
• Demonstrated strength in social value and/or resilience & adaptation, alongside broad sustainability and regenerative design capability.
• A relevant qualification in Design, Engineering, Science, Environmental Management, Sustainability or related discipline.
• Strong systems thinking — able to consider projects in their wider ecological, social, economic and stakeholder context.
• The ability to translate complex sustainability challenges into practical, compelling and measurable project strategies.
• A strong industry network of partners and Clients.
• Confidence influencing senior clients, project leaders and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent facilitation skills — able to lead workshops, shape dialogue and build alignment.
• The ability to synthesise complex information into clear narratives and strong cases for change.
• A track record of linking sustainability outcomes to stakeholder value, business drivers and long-term benefit.
• Curiosity and generosity in sharing knowledge, contributing to culture, and lifting capability across teams.
• Openness to different ways of working, with the ability to integrate your expertise seamlessly into design processes.
• Strong self-awareness, integrity, and a commitment to operating with trust, transparency and respect.

Additional Information

Why Choose Hassell? 

Our team enjoys a wide range of benefits to support their development and well-being:

• 16 weeks paid parental leave for both primary and secondary carers. 
• A progressive flexible work policy that allows hybrid work, location flexibility and work pattern flexibility
• Inter-studio transfer opportunities 
• Wellbeing benefits 
• Development and training opportunities, including access to online training programs and our People Coach program. 
• Study assistance.

Hassell is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity. We demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation and cultural safety by fostering inclusive environments that value the cultural identities, perspectives, and practices of all individuals. We prioritise ensuring that everyone feels safe, included, and respected.

Our local studios serve as primary hubs for in-person connection and collaboration, and we offer flexible and hybrid work arrangements. Hassell encourages sustainable work hours and actively supports the holistic health and well-being of our people.

Apply Now We're a fast-paced and proactive practice, so we don't wait until applications close to review them. Submit your CV and professional portfolio. Please note that we do not accept speculative candidates via agencies or third parties.