Contract Architect / Healthcare Planner

Job Title: Architect / Healthcare Planner (Contract)
Hourly Rate: 30 - 35 per hour
Location: Manchester
Contract Duration: Negotiable

Our client are a well-established Manchester-based practice with a strong track record in healthcare design. Working predominantly with NHS Trusts and healthcare providers, they deliver thoughtful, clinically focused design solutions across acute and community settings.
Due to increased workload on strategic healthcare commissions, they're looking for an experienced Healthcare Planner to join them on a contract basis. This is a front-end focused role, where you'll be instrumental in translating clinical requirements into spatial briefs that inform design development.

The Role
You'll be working on early-stage feasibility and briefing for healthcare schemes, with your day-to-day including:

• Leading stakeholder engagement workshops with clinical teams, Trust Estates, and operational staff
• Developing functional content briefs, room data sheets, and schedule of accommodation
• Preparing departmental adjacency diagrams and space planning studies
• Supporting Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and Outline Business Case (OBC) submissions
• Producing operational flow analysis and capacity planning assessments
• Advising on compliance with Health Building Notes (HBNs) and Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs)
• Collaborating with architects, Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors, and Trust Capital Teams
• Contributing to options appraisals and feasibility testing

What We're Looking For
Essential:

• Proven experience in healthcare planning or front-end medical architecture
• Strong understanding of NHS briefing processes and business case development
• Detailed working knowledge of HBNs, HTMs, and NHS estates guidance
• Experience translating clinical service models into spatial requirements
• Confident stakeholder engagement skills, particularly with clinical and operational staff
• Ability to hit the ground running on live projects

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