Location
Oxford

Hours
Freelance / Contract Role

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Gillespies LLP is a leading landscape architecture, masterplanning and urban design studio known 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 by 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 with a background in Landscape Architecture or Architecture to join us on a freelance / contract basis. You will contribute to design leadership, project delivery, and creative development within our studio.

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 suits experienced designers confident in working across scales, from strategic design thinking to detailed implementation.

Key responsibilities 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

We are particularly interested in candidates passionate about the evolving relationship between design and technology, with experience or interest 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

Experience
Minimum 4 years of professional experience in landscape architecture, architecture, or related design fields.
Experience delivering projects through planning, tender, or site stages.
Work within UK practice context is highly advantageous.

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

Qualifications
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.

Freelance Working Considerations
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.

Essential Software
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator minimum).
Microsoft 365 or Studio 2019 with MS Teams.
AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT.

Desirable Software (based on project requirements)
Autodesk Revit
Autodesk Navisworks & Manager
ArcGIS Desktop Pro
Autodesk Civil 3D
SketchUp Pro
Google Earth Pro
NBS Chorus
Rhino