We are a UK & Ireland practice with strong connections across all of our studios in London, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow, Plymouth, Belfast and Dublin. We work collaboratively as one team structured by sector, sharing resources, knowledge and skills. Ranked as one of the top 20 largest practices in the UK this year, other recent accolades include:
AJ100 List of UK’s Top Architectural Practices 2025
Best Companies Top 10 Best Mid-Sized Companies to work for 2025
Shortlisted, AJ100 Awards – Employer of the Year 2025
Shortlisted, Architect of Year Awards – Social Value Architect of the Year 2025
Shortlisted, Architect of Year Awards – Employer of the Year 2025
Highly Commended, MMC Awards – Architectural Practice of the Year 2025
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Emergency Services Lead to support the growth of our Justice & Emergency Services sector. This is a key role working directly with the Head of Sector, combining design leadership, project delivery, and work-winning to help expand our presence across fire, police, and ambulance services.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in a niche but rapidly growing sector, shaping high-quality, operationally critical environments for blue light services.
Key Responsibilities
Sector Support & Growth
Support the Head of Justice & Emergency Services in delivering the sector strategy
Contribute to business development activities, bids, and client engagement
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across fire, police, and ambulance services
Identify new opportunities and support pipeline development
Design & Technical Leadership
Lead and contribute to the design of emergency services facilities, ensuring operational efficiency and design excellence
Apply sector-specific knowledge to develop innovative, practical solutions
Champion best practice, standardisation, and continuous improvement across projects
Support the development of High quality designs and technical standards
Project Delivery
Act as project lead and senior team member on blue-light services projects
Ensure delivery to programme, budget, and quality expectations
Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders
Share lessons learned and drive efficiencies across the sector
Knowledge Sharing & Innovation
Promote collaboration across Sectors and regions
Capture and share lessons learned from projects
Contribute to innovation in design, sustainability, and operational performance within the sector
Essential skills & experience:
Qualified Architect (ARB/RIBA or equivalent)
Minimum 5+ years’ post-qualification experience
Proven experience delivering blue light projects (fire stations, police facilities, ambulance hubs)
Strong design and technical capability
Experience supporting bids, proposals, or client presentations
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
Desirable:
Experience working within public sector frameworks
Understanding of operational requirements for emergency services
Experience in sector standardisation or reference design development
What We Offer
Opportunity to shape and grow a key sector within the business
Exposure to high-profile, purpose-driven projects
Clear progression pathway within a growing team
Collaborative and supportive working environment
Why Join Us?
You will be joining a team with strong ambitions in the Justice & Emergency Services sector, where your expertise will directly influence both project outcomes and sector growth This is a role with real opportunity to make an impact.
We offer a friendly studio environment, an award-winning lifestyle package, and a commitment to your personal development through the HLM Academy. We are also an Employee Owned Trust, which means our employees have a sense of ownership, a say in our direction and are rewarded for the part they play in our future success.
Diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB) is at the core of our business. We advocate equal opportunities, creating an inclusive working environment for all. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different mode please contact our HR team for assistance.
If you think this role could be for you, please send your CV and examples of your work.
Those shortlisted will be contacted.
HLM Architects is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
We are an Employee-Owned architectural practice with a proud 61-year history of producing places and spaces that improve people’s lives. With a design philosophy that puts people at its centre, it is our mission to delight clients and users, making memorable places which evoke positive emotional responses.
We strive to create buildings that respond to their context and climate, as well as our client’s budget, and we consequently don’t have a ‘signature-style’. Every design evolves as a solution to a unique set of challenges that we approach with ‘signature-thinking’ – this is a creative, thoughtful, and fun process that allows the character and ideas of each project to flourish in their own delightful way - we call this ‘Thoughtful Design’.
We have received broad and far-reaching accolades for our designs, including:
◽️ Building Magazine's Architectural Practice of the Year 2023
◽️ BCIA Digital Initiative of the Year 2023
◽️ Winner of two Structural Timber awards 2023
◽️ Offsite Awards Architect of the Year and Winner of Winners 2023
◽️ Triple winner at Glasgow Institute of Architects awards 2023
Our true reward is knowing that we can improve wellbeing - not only in our design approach, but inside and outside of the business too. We pride ourselves on a diverse workforce and inclusive culture, promoted at board level by our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Group and enhanced by our connect day activities. Reflective of our culture, we received the AJ100 Employer of the Year Award 2020 and 2021, and are recognized as a three-star accredited, ‘world-class’ Best Company Employer.
We are passionate about improving social mobility, opening new avenues into the profession and encouraging younger generations to pursue their ambitions. Our teams are regularly involved in outreach programs, we have teamed up with Speakers for Schools and RIBA Learning, and signed up to the Social Mobility Pledge, the Lord Mayor of London Pledge, See-It-Be-It Sheffield and DYW Glasgow.
