Hospitality Sector Lead - HLM Architects

Would you like to be part of an employee-owned, multi award-winning architecture practice whose desire is to make spaces and places that improve lives?

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Hospitality Sector Lead to support growth across our regional studios. This is a key role working directly with the Director/Board Sponsor and Regional leads combining specialist sector knowledge, design leadership, project delivery, and work-winning to help expand our Hospitality portfolio throughout the regions. This role will be based in either our Sheffield, London, or Birmingham Studio.

We are a UK & Ireland practice with strong connections across all of our studios in London, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow, Plymouth, Birmingham, Belfast and Dublin. We work collaboratively as one team structured by sector, sharing resources, knowledge and skills. Ranked as one of the top 25 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

Key Responsibilities

Sector Support & Growth

· Support the Director/Board Sponsor in delivering the sector strategy

· Provide leadership and specialist hotel brand expertise to support work winning across the regional studios

· Contribute to business development activities, bids, and client engagement

· Identify new opportunities and support pipeline development

Design & Technical Leadership

· Lead and contribute to the design of HLM’s hospitality projects, ensuring design excellence

· Apply sector-specific knowledge to develop innovative, practical solutions that focus on operational efficiency and customer experience.

· Champion best practice and continuous improvement across projects

Project Delivery

· 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, disciplines and regions

· Capture and share lessons learned from projects

· Contribute to innovation in design and sustainability

About You

Essential:

· Qualified Architect (ARB/RIBA or equivalent)

· Minimum 5+ years’ post-qualification experience

· Proven experience designing and delivering Hospitality projects for a range of brands

· Strong design and technical capability

· Experience supporting bids, proposals, or client presentations

· Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Desirable:

· Experience in MMC and adaptive re-use

Why Join Us?

You will be joining a team with strong ambitions in the residential sector, where your expertise will directly influence both project outcomes and sector growth. This is a role with real opportunity to make an impact. This role also requires travelling between our studios to support the growth across the business.

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 matter deeply to us. We want everyone to feel welcome and supported to thrive. If you need any adjustments to the application or interview process, just let our HR team know and we’ll be happy to support you.

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.

Sheffield studio

London studio

Birmingham studio

Working at HLM

We offer a blended work model with a flexible approach to studio and remote working, recognising lifestyles are complex and we all have competing responsibilities. Our SMARTBlend approach supports job sharing, part-time, term time and staggered hours, home working, back to work schemes for parents, keeping in touch days, career breaks, sabbaticals and condensed hours. We recognise no one size fits all. Providing a great studio environment is only part of the equation and flexible ways of working gives us more richness, diversity and choice for how we can work most effectively.

We are committed to supporting our employees with their well-being. Employees can access resources through our Health cash plan and EAP scheme such as a screening and self-management app which contains a range of evidence-based techniques and access to a human-led therapy service. We also have a team of qualified Mental Health First Aiders across our studios, who work together to support staff and raise awareness through regular campaigns.

The HLM Academy supports everyone along their career pathway – capturing passions, driving innovation, and developing the necessary skills to navigate our ever-evolving world. We recognise learning is not just a one-off event. From fostering an inclusive mindset to leveraging cutting-edge methodologies, we’re committed to lifelong learning. And through the Academy and our MentoringPLUS programme, we provide our employees with access to the tools, resources and opportunities to succeed. We support everyone to become firmly established in their role by helping to lay strong foundations and develop the skills and experience necessary to thrive.

SMARTBlend

We offer a blended work model with a flexible approach to studio and remote working, recognising lifestyles are complex and we all have competing responsibilities. Our SMARTBlend approach supports job sharing, part-time, term time and staggered hours, home working, back to work schemes for parents, keeping in touch days, career breaks, sabbaticals and condensed hours. We recognise no one size fits all. Providing a great studio environment is only part of the equation and flexible ways of working gives us more richness, diversity and choice for how we can work most effectively.

Wellness and recognition

We are committed to supporting our employees with their well-being. Employees can access resources through our Health cash plan and EAP scheme such as a screening and self-management app which contains a range of evidence-based techniques and access to a human-led therapy service. We also have a team of qualified Mental Health First Aiders across our studios, who work together to support staff and raise awareness through regular campaigns.

HLM Academy

The HLM Academy supports everyone along their career pathway – capturing passions, driving innovation, and developing the necessary skills to navigate our ever-evolving world. We recognise learning is not just a one-off event. From fostering an inclusive mindset to leveraging cutting-edge methodologies, we’re committed to lifelong learning. And through the Academy and our MentoringPLUS programme, we provide our employees with access to the tools, resources and opportunities to succeed. We support everyone to become firmly established in their role by helping to lay strong foundations and develop the skills and experience necessary to thrive.

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