Relocate to Australia: Associate Director - Project Architect (NSQEP)

AECOM • Norfolk, VA

16d • Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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

Nice To Haves

• NSQEP recognition
• postgraduate qualifications

Responsibilities

• 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

Benefits

• 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
• Access to industry-leading technology and thinking
• Transformational work with big impact
• Work flexibility
• Robust global well-being program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director