Lead Architect – School Design & Campus Development

Role purpose

Campus and learning environment design

• Leads master planning and design for new and existing campuses from Pre-Primary to Grade 12, supporting CBSE, IB, Cambridge, British, and Montessori programmes.
• Plans flexible, expandable campuses incorporating academics, sports, arts, leadership, innovation, wellbeing, and community functions.
• Works with academic leaders on technology-enabled classrooms, STEM, AI, robotics, AR/VR, maker spaces, early-years settings, and inclusive learning environments.
• Embeds experiential, project-based, and blended learning into campus layouts.

Design authority and governance

• Acts as final architectural design authority for campus master planning, spatial standards, and architectural quality across geographies.
• Leads concept, design-development, design-freeze, pre-authority, and post-completion design reviews; approves, rejects, or directs consultant revisions.
• Establishes design governance gates, manages risks and deviations, and escalates material conflicts through the Projects & Infrastructure governance framework.
• Maintains brand consistency, design quality, spatial efficiency, and compliance with applicable codes and school accreditation standards.

Sustainability and value

• Leads value engineering and evaluates lifecycle costs, maintenance, energy use, and adaptability without compromising learning, safety, or durability.
• Integrates energy-efficient systems, daylight, solar power, rainwater harvesting, water recycling, eco-friendly materials, and climate-responsive strategies.
• Drives IGBC, GRIHA, or LEED certification targets where applicable.

BIM, delivery, and campus operations

• Prepares, reviews, and approves architectural drawings, technical specifications, and BOQs; oversees BIM models, clash detection, and resolution.
• Coordinates structural, MEP, fire, IT, AV, security, and landscape consultants to produce integrated, buildable designs.
• Develops phasing and decanting strategies for brownfield and live-campus projects while protecting student safety, safeguarding, and academic continuity.
• Provides construction oversight, reviews shop drawings and samples, conducts site visits, supports handover and snag closure, and participates in post-occupancy evaluation.

Standards and knowledge leadership

• Maintains GSG and GIIS design standards, space norms, and guidelines, and creates a Global Campus Design Playbook.
• Maintains approved design and as-built documentation and captures lessons, innovations, and practices across campuses.

Skills and technical expertise

• Requires expertise in educational and institutional architecture, child safety, wellbeing, and learning sciences.
• Requires proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit or BIM, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite; familiarity with smart-campus technologies and digital infrastructure is specified.
• Calls for BIM-led coordination knowledge, portfolio management, stakeholder engagement, strategic thinking, and hands-on design and execution capability.

Qualifications and experience

• Requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture and registration with the Council of Architecture (India) or an equivalent international body.
• 10–18 years in institutional, school, or campus architecture and a track record delivering K–12 schools or large academic campuses are preferred.
• Experience with large school networks or global education brands is preferred.
• Designers from other sectors may be considered if they demonstrate strong design thinking, execution capability, and adaptability to educational environments.

Opportunity

• The role offers the opportunity to shape education infrastructure across more than 11 countries and work across architecture, pedagogy, sustainability, and innovation.
• The position carries a long-term leadership mandate and design authority affecting learners globally.