Lead Architect – School Design & Campus Development

Overview

Reporting To

Role Purpose

Primary Accountabilities

• Campus master planning and concept design
• Pedagogy-led spatial planning
• Establishment, review, and approval of design standards
• Architectural quality assurance
• BIM-led coordination and consultant management
• Setting and maintaining global benchmarks for school campus design within GSG

Shared Accountabilities

• Sustainability outcomes
• Cost optimisation
• Regulatory approvals
• Live-campus delivery
• Post-occupancy performance

Design Authority & Decision Rights

• Acts as
• GSG’s final architectural design authority
• for campus master planning, spatial standards, and architectural quality across all geographies.
• Leads the
• end-to-end design review and approval process
• , including:
• Concept design reviews
• Design development stage checkpoints
• Design freeze approvals
• Pre-authority submission reviews
• Post-completion / as-built checks and verification
• Holds authority to
• approve, reject, or direct revisions
• to consultant designs to ensure alignment with GSG pedagogy, safety, brand, sustainability, and operational standards.
• Escalates
• material design deviations, risks, or conflicts
• through the Projects & Infrastructure governance framework for resolution.

Campus Master Planning & Concept Design

• Lead master planning and architectural design for new and existing GSG campuses from Pre-Primary to Grade 12.
• Design campuses that support multi-curriculum delivery, including CBSE, IB, Cambridge, British, and Montessori programmes.
• Translate GSG’s 9GEMS pedagogy into integrated spatial planning covering academics, sports, arts, leadership, innovation, wellbeing, and community functions.
• Ensure scalability, flexibility, and provision for future expansion within all master plans.

Pedagogy-Led & Child-Centric Design

• Collaborate closely with academic leadership to design flexible, technology-enabled classrooms; STEM, AI, robotics, AR/VR, and maker spaces; early-years learning environments aligned with global best practices; and inclusive environments supporting special education and student wellbeing.
• Embed experiential, project-based, and blended learning models into campus layouts and spatial strategies.

Global Standards, Compliance & Design Quality

• Ensure all designs comply with applicable local building bye-laws, zoning regulations, fire and life safety codes, accessibility standards, and child protection requirements across geographies.
• Ensure alignment with CBSE, IB, Cambridge, and British inspection and accreditation standards.
• Act as the design authority to maintain brand consistency, spatial efficiency, and quality standards across all campuses.

Design Governance, Risk & Controls

• Establish and enforce formal design governance gates, including concept freeze, design freeze, and construction issue control.
• Identify design, authority, constructability, and operational risks early and drive mitigation actions.
• Maintain a Design Risk Register aligned with the Projects & Infrastructure risk management framework.
• Ensure robust change-control discipline, including documentation and approval of design deviations and revisions.

Value Engineering & Lifecycle Performance

• Lead design-led value-engineering exercises focused on CAPEX optimisation without compromising pedagogy, safety, durability, or long-term performance.
• Evaluate lifecycle cost implications, including maintenance, energy consumption, and adaptability.
• Partner with Operations and FM teams to embed design-for-maintenance and design-for-operations principles.

Sustainability & Future-Ready Design

• Integrate sustainability principles aligned with GSG’s ESG commitments, including energy-efficient building systems, natural daylight optimisation, solar power integration, rainwater harvesting, water recycling, eco-friendly materials, and climate-responsive design strategies.
• Drive IGBC, GRIHA, or LEED certification targets where applicable.

Detailed Design, BIM & Consultant Coordination

• Lead preparation, review, and approval of architectural drawings, technical specifications, and BOQs.
• Oversee BIM models and coordination processes, including clash detection and resolution.
• Coordinate closely with structural, MEP, fire, IT, AV, security, and landscape consultants to ensure integrated and buildable design solutions.
• Ensure seamless incorporation of smart classrooms, digital infrastructure, and campus security systems.

Brownfield, Phasing & Live-Campus Strategy

• Develop phasing and decanting strategies for brownfield and live-campus projects.
• Ensure designs prioritise student safety, safeguarding, and academic continuity during construction.
• Coordinate closely with school leadership to manage operational disruption risks.

Project Execution & Quality Control

• Provide architectural oversight during construction to ensure adherence to design intent, quality benchmarks, and regulatory compliance.
• Review shop drawings, materials, mock-ups, and samples.
• Conduct regular site visits, resolve design and execution issues, and support timely project delivery.
• Participate in handover, snag closure, and post-occupancy evaluation processes.

Standardisation, Data & Knowledge Leadership

• Develop, maintain, and continuously refine GSG and GIIS school design standards, space norms, and design guidelines.
• Create and manage a Global Campus Design Playbook to enable replication, speed-to-market, and consistency across geographies.
• Establish and maintain centralised design documentation systems, including archiving of approved designs and as-built drawings.
• Capture and institutionalise best practices, innovations, and lessons learned across campuses.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Deep expertise in educational and institutional architecture
• Strong understanding of child safety, wellbeing, and learning sciences
• Proven ability to manage large, multi-location project portfolios
• Strong stakeholder engagement across academic, operations, and leadership teams
• Strategic mindset combined with hands-on design and execution capability

Technical Expertise

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit or BIM, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong knowledge of BIM-led design and coordination processes
• Familiarity with smart campus technologies and digital infrastructure systems
• Working understanding of international school accreditation requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture
• Registered Architect with the Council of Architecture (India) or equivalent international body
• 10–18 years of experience in institutional, school, or campus architecture preferred
• Proven track record in designing and delivering K–12 schools or large academic campuses preferred
• Architects with iconic, award-winning, or outstanding design experience in other sectors (e.g., cultural, civic, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, or public realm projects) are welcome, provided they demonstrate strong design thinking, execution capability, and adaptability to educational environments
• Experience with large school networks or global education brands preferred

What Success Looks Like at GSG

• Campuses that consistently reflect GSG’s global quality and design standards
• Learning environments that demonstrably enhance student engagement, wellbeing, and learning outcomes
• Faster campus rollout achieved through standardisation without compromising quality
• Strong alignment between pedagogy, infrastructure, sustainability, and governance objectives

Why Join Global Schools Group

• Opportunity to shape education infrastructure across more than 11 countries
• Work at the intersection of architecture, pedagogy, sustainability, and innovation
• Long-term leadership role with clear design authority and governance mandate
• High-impact work influencing tens of thousands of learners globally