Senior Project Architect AIBC

Gilder Search Group; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking a Senior Architect in Vancouver, BC, to lead complex architectural projects from inception to closeout. The role requires 10+ years of experience, a registered Architect status (AIBC), and a degree in Architecture.

You will manage cross-disciplinary teams, oversee budgets and schedules, and ensure high design and technical quality. You will mentor junior staff, collaborate with senior leadership, and contribute to the growth and leadership of the Vancouver studio,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional architectural experience with leadership.
• Registered Architect in good standing with AIBC.
• Degree in Architecture from a recognized institution.
• Proven ability to lead complex projects from predesign through closeout.
• Strong BIM and Revit collaboration within BIM environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex architectural projects from predesign through construction and closeout.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams and coordinate stakeholders.
• Oversee schedules, budgets, resourcing, and deliverables.
• Ensure design quality and technical soundness across phases.
• Mentor intermediate and junior staff.
• Collaborate with Principal and leadership on strategy and resourcing.
• Contribute to Vancouver studio leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Mentorship

Client communication

Design thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Architecture

Tools

Revit

Job description

Senior Architect

Vancouver, BC

Architecture & Design Firm

Salary: $110,000 - $120,000+

Lead Meaningful Projects. Develop Great Teams. Grow into Leadership.

About the Firm

Our client is a highly respected, award-winning architectural practice with a strong presence across Canada and an established studio in Vancouver. The firm is recognized for thoughtful, design-driven architecture and an impressive portfolio of complex projects across institutional, community, civic, cultural, educational, and mixed-use sectors.

The practice brings together strong design thinking, technical excellence, sustainability, and collaborative project delivery. Their work is meaningful, complex, and highly visible, with projects that have a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

The Vancouver studio has an established team and a strong pipeline of work. As the studio continues to evolve, the Principal is looking to add an experienced Senior Architect who can confidently lead projects and teams while also having the ambition and career runway to continue progressing into increasingly senior leadership responsibilities over time.

This is not simply about filling an immediate project need. The Principal is thinking longer term about the continued development and leadership of the Vancouver studio and is interested in bringing in someone who can make an impact today while continuing to grow within the practice.

Why Join This Team?

This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished Senior Architect who has established themselves as a strong project leader but is not looking to plateau at the Senior Architect level.

You will have the opportunity to lead significant, complex projects from predesign and early concept through design development, construction documentation, construction administration, and closeout, while working closely with the Principal and other senior leaders within the practice.

The firm is looking for someone who wants to continue building their career, expand their influence within a studio, mentor and develop others, and gradually take on greater responsibility across projects, clients, teams, and the broader practice.

You will join a highly collaborative and design-focused environment where strong ideas are valued, sustainability is embedded into the design process, and senior team members are trusted to take ownership of their work.

For the right individual, there is genuine opportunity to establish yourself as an important member of the Vancouver leadership team and continue progressing into a significant leadership position over the years ahead.

The Role

As a Senior Architect, you will take a leadership role across the full lifecycle of complex architectural projects, from predesign and early design through construction and closeout.

You will confidently lead multidisciplinary project teams, manage clients and consultants, oversee project schedules, budgets, resourcing, and deliverables, and ensure projects maintain a high level of design and technical quality throughout their development.

This role requires someone who can balance design excellence with the realities of successful project delivery. You will be expected to understand the bigger picture while remaining close enough to the work to identify challenges, provide direction, and ensure projects continue moving forward.

You will also play an important role in mentoring intermediate and junior staff, helping develop strong project teams, and creating an environment where people can learn, take ownership, and progress professionally.

Beyond immediate project responsibilities, you will work closely with the Principal and senior leadership and have the opportunity to gradually expand your involvement in broader studio leadership as you establish yourself within the firm.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex architectural projects from predesign through construction and closeout.
• Develop project strategies, work plans, schedules, budgets, staffing requirements, and deliverables.
• Lead multidisciplinary architectural teams and provide clear direction throughout all phases of project delivery.
• Act as a key point of contact for clients, consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders.
• Lead and coordinate projects through conceptual design, design development, construction documentation, permitting, tender, construction administration, and closeout.
• Maintain a high standard of design excellence while ensuring projects remain technically sound, coordinated, and deliverable.
• Coordinate structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, specialty, and other multidisciplinary consultants.
• Identify project challenges early and confidently lead teams through design, technical, coordination, and construction issues.
• Oversee project performance, including schedules, budgets, resourcing, quality, and client expectations.
• Maintain design intent throughout documentation and construction.
• Integrate sustainability, building performance, and environmentally responsible design principles throughout project development.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to intermediate and junior architects, designers, and technologists.
• Support the professional development of team members through mentorship, delegation, feedback, and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate closely with the Principal and senior leadership on project strategy, team development, resourcing, and successful project delivery.
• Contribute to the continued development of the Vancouver studio and gradually take on broader leadership responsibilities within the practice.

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of professional architectural experience with demonstrated progression into project and team leadership.
• Registered Architect in good standing with AIBC.
• Degree in Architecture from a recognized institution.
• Proven ability to confidently and independently lead complex architectural projects from predesign through construction and closeout.
• Strong project management skills with experience managing project budgets, schedules, resourcing, deliverables, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong project experience across institutional, community, civic, cultural, educational, and/or mixed-use environments.
• Strong design acumen with the ability to understand, develop, communicate, and maintain design intent throughout project delivery.
• Strong proficiency in Revit and experience working within BIM-based project environments.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable design principles, building performance, and environmentally responsible design.
• Thorough understanding of the BC Building Code, local regulations, construction systems, and project delivery practices.
• Extensive experience coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams.
• Strong understanding of architectural projects across all phases of delivery.
• Confident client-facing communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, delegate, and provide clear direction to project teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision‑making skills with the confidence to take ownership when challenges arise.
• Driven, personable, collaborative, and approachable leadership style.
• Genuine interest in developing people, building strong teams, and contributing positively to studio culture.
• Ambition to continue progressing professionally and take on increasingly senior leadership responsibilities within the practice over time.

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary, negotiable based on experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including HSA & LSA.
• Professional development and continuing education support.
• Opportunity to lead significant, complex, and meaningful architectural projects.
• Exposure to institutional, community, civic, cultural, educational, and mixed‑use work.
• Highly collaborative and design‑focused studio environment.
• Opportunity to work closely with the Vancouver Principal and established senior leadership team.
• Hybrid working model consisting of 4 days in office
• Strong platform to continue developing your project, people, client, and studio leadership capabilities.
• Genuine long‑term career progression for someone interested in moving beyond the Senior Architect level.
• Opportunity to have a meaningful influence on the continued development and future leadership of the Vancouver studio.

If you're an experienced AIBC Registered Architect who can confidently lead complex projects and teams but still has the ambition to continue progressing into broader leadership, this is an outstanding opportunity to join a highly respected architectural practice where you can make an immediate impact while continuing to build toward the next stage of your career.