Associate Director - Project Architect

Title: Associate Director - Project Architect (NSQEP)

Location: Adelaide Australia

Job Description:

• temprop="jobLocation" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Place">Employees work in a hybrid mode
• temprop="employmentType">Full-time
• State/Province: South Australia
• Business Group: DCS
• Legal Entity: AECOM Australia Pty Ltd
• Business Line: B&P - Buildings & Places
• Work Location Model: Hybrid
• Operating Group: International
• Primary Location: AU - Adelaide, SA

Company Description

Come and grow with us.

Our global portfolio of work comprises the design of iconic and award-winning buildings and landscapes. From strategic planning through to project realisation, the connections we make among people and place provide sustainable outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve. We place a premium on investing in digital capabilities and innovations which bring a unique consistency and efficiency to our scalable work. Together with our clients, we are working to evolve and elevate the built environment across sectors including social infrastructure, transit, technology and logistics, and commercial and corporate real estate, while focusing on solutions that promote long term health and wellbeing for all.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

As an Associate Director – Project Architect you will lead the design and delivery of complex facilities within highly regulated environments including defence, research and nuclear infrastructure. You will provide architectural leadership across multidisciplinary teams, guiding coordinated design outcomes from concept through to delivery while maintaining strong alignment with safety and operational requirements. The role requires a balance of strong design capability, technical leadership and stakeholder engagement with responsibility for shaping project direction, managing interfaces and ensuring design integrity is maintained throughout all stages of delivery. 

How you’ll make a difference:

• Lead the architectural design and delivery of complex defence, research, and nuclear infrastructure projects within highly regulated environments
• Act as Project Architect, maintaining design intent and ensuring coordinated, high-quality outcomes across all project stages
• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination, integrating architectural, structural, services, and specialist systems into cohesive solutions
• Translate nuclear safety case and regulatory requirements into robust architectural design responses in collaboration with subject matter experts
• Oversee design development, technical documentation, and compliance with relevant standards including Defence, NCC, IAEA, and applicable nuclear frameworks
• Lead client and stakeholder engagement, building trusted relationships and ensuring alignment across project objectives and expectations
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to project teams while driving continuous improvement and delivery excellence

Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered.

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Accredited degree in Architecture with registration as an Architect in Australia (or eligibility for registration)
• 10–15+ years’ experience in architecture, including leadership roles on complex, safety-critical projects
• Proven experience acting as Project Architect and/or Principal Consultant on medium to large-scale projects
• Demonstrated experience in highly regulated environments such as defence, laboratories, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or nuclear-related facilities
• Strong understanding of Defence design standards, government delivery frameworks, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Experience working with safety-in-design principles, human factors, and complex systems integration in high-hazard environments
• Australian Citizenship (or eligibility for AUKUS clearance) is required; NSQEP recognition and/or postgraduate qualifications are highly regarded

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us:

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, full-time, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year         
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities