Retrofit Design Lead

At Ridge, we are passionate about delivering innovative, sustainable, and high-quality solutions for our clients. As a leading multi-disciplinary consultancy, we work at the forefront of the UK’s decarbonisation and retrofit programmes, supporting social housing providers to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance residents’ quality of life. Due to continued growth in our retrofit services portfolio, we are seeking an experienced and qualified Retrofit Designer to join our dedicated Retrofit Team.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Retrofit Design Lead to join our growing team, playing a pivotal role in delivering high quality retrofit design solutions across a diverse portfolio. This is a senior level position responsible for leading retrofit design delivery, particularly on complex archetypes including high risk buildings (HRBs), ensuring compliance with evolving legislation and industry standards. You will take ownership of design strategy, project delivery, team leadership, and client engagement, supporting Ridge’s continued expansion in the retrofit and decarbonisation sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead retrofit design projects from concept through to delivery, with a particular focus for complex measures across varying archetypes.
• Take overall design responsibility across retrofit schemes, ensuring compliance with PAS203, Building Regulations, Building Safety Act and more.
• Act as a senior technical authority on retrofit design, providing guidance and oversight to internal teams as well as acting as a senior point of contact for clients and principal contractors on design related project queries.
• Manage and mentor Retrofit Designers at Ridge, supporting their development and workload planning as well as progressing their careers in the Retrofit sector.
• Lead design coordination across disciplines and projects, ensuring integrated and compliant solutions are considered
• Provide expertise in risk management and building safety compliance, particularly for higher-risk buildings and complex projects/archetypes.
• Develop and review specifications, technical reports, and design documentation alongside the Retrofit Designers including taking ownership of design QMS process.
• Lead engagement with clients, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Support bid submissions and fee proposals, including pricing of projects and general business development initiatives, leading and driving the growth of the Retrofit service offering.
• Manage project resourcing, programme delivery, and quality assurance.
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with Ridge’s commercial and technical standards.
  
  

Essential

About You:

• Qualified Architect with MCIAT is a must.
• Fully competent and experienced in Revit.
• Extensive experience in retrofit design delivery, including leadership of projects.
• Strong working knowledge of: PAS 2035, Building Regulations Building Safety Act.
• Proven experience working on High-Risk Buildings (HRBs), particularly retrofit of residential tower blocks under PAS2035.
• Experience delivering retrofit projects within the social housing sector / public sector.
• Demonstrable experience of: leading and coordinating design teams, managing workloads and delegating responsibilities, client-facing project leadership
• Experience preparing fee proposals and pricing retrofit design work
• Strong understanding of retrofit risk, sequencing, and compliance.
  
  

Desirable

• Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management
• Experience in commercial retrofit projects and public sector dwellings (churches/schools etc.)
• Experience working within multi-disciplinary consultancy environments
• Knowledge of funding schemes (e.g., Warm Homes / SHDF)