Director of Operations, Building Enclosure & Architecture

Lerch Bates Inc.; The Colony (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP - employee ownership

Health, dental and vision insurance

PTO 17 days + holidays

401(k) with match

Job summary

Lerch Bates Inc. in The Colony, TX, seeks an entrepreneurial Licensed Architect to lead and grow the Building Enclosure Rehabilitation & Restoration practice.

As Director of Operations, you will provide business leadership and technical direction for a growing team, overseeing investigations, design, and modernization projects while mentoring staff. You will manage client relationships, project delivery, and strategic growth, focusing on existing building enclosure systems rather than new

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• Active Registered Architect (RA) license required.
• 10+ years of experience in building enclosure consulting, architecture, or related fields.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing client relationships.
• Strong knowledge of building enclosure systems including roofing, waterproofing, facades, fenestration, air barriers, vapor barriers, and exterior wall assemblies.
• Experience conducting building assessments, investigations, and developing repair/rehabilitation strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead investigations of building enclosure failures, water intrusion, and related concerns.
• Direct condition assessments and enclosure evaluations for existing structures.
• Develop rehab, restoration, and modernization strategies for enclosure components.
• Review findings, reports, drawings, and specs for technical accuracy.
• Role model leadership and provide guidance throughout project lifecycles.
• Oversee project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, and performance.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentoring

Client relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field

Job description

Department

Existing Building Repair & Modernization

Location

The Colony, TX (hybrid)

Lerch Bates is seeking an entrepreneurial, technically accomplished Licensed Architect to lead and grow our Building Enclosure Rehabilitation & Restoration practice. This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on leader who enjoys solving complex building challenges, mentoring technical professionals, and helping clients extend the life, performance, and value of their buildings. As Director of Operations, you will provide both the business leadership and technical direction for a growing team focused on existing building enclosure systems. You will oversee project delivery, team development, client relationships, operational performance, and strategic growth while remaining actively engaged in investigations, condition assessments, rehabilitation design, repair strategies, and modernization projects. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with leadership capability, client relationship skills, and a passion for developing both people and business opportunities. This role focuses on existing building rehabilitation, restoration, and modernization projects, not new construction design.

About Lerch Bates

Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high-profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that integrates Building Science and Building Flow into a unified delivery model. Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, rehabilitation, management, and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well-informed decisions in an increasingly complex built environment. We are 100% employee-owned through our ESOP. That means when the company succeeds, our employee-owners share in that success. It's more than a retirement benefit—it's an ownership mindset backed by the opportunity to build long-term financial value while helping shape the future of the company.

What You’ll Do

Technical Leadership & Consulting

• Lead investigations involving building enclosure failures, water intrusion, facade deterioration, roofing issues, waterproofing deficiencies, air leakage, and other performance-related concerns.


• Direct building condition assessments and building enclosure evaluations for existing structures.


• Develop rehabilitation, restoration, and modernization strategies for roofing, waterproofing, facade, fenestration, wall systems, and related enclosure components.


• Review investigation findings, technical reports, repair recommendations, drawings, and specifications to ensure technical accuracy and quality.


• Serve as a senior technical advisor on complex or high-profile projects.


• Remain actively engaged in project execution, providing guidance and expertise throughout the project lifecycle.

Operations & Project Delivery

• Lead and actively contribute to projects ranging from focused building assessments to large, complex rehabilitation and modernization programs.


• Oversee project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, resource allocation, and overall project performance.


• Coordinate team workloads to achieve utilization, revenue, and client service objectives.


• Maintain quality standards across all project deliverables.


• Review Consultant and Specialist work products to ensure consistency, technical accuracy, and client satisfaction.


• Support proposal development through technical expertise, project planning, and staffing recommendations.


• Provide high-touch client engagement on sensitive, strategic, or complex assignments.


• Oversee project financial performance, including invoicing, forecasting, and operational reporting.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Consultants, Specialists, and technical professionals.


• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on technical excellence and client success.


• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance discussions, and career development planning.


• Provide coaching on project management, technical problem-solving, consulting skills, and client engagement.


• Serve as a role model and trusted resource for team members.


• Support recruitment, onboarding, retention, and succession planning efforts.

Business Development & Client Relationships

• Serve as a trusted advisor to building owners, property managers, developers, architects, engineers, contractors, and other industry partners.


• Develop and maintain long-term client relationships through exceptional service and technical expertise.


• Identify opportunities to expand services and support additional client needs.


• Participate in networking, business development, industry involvement, and client engagement activities.


• Present findings, recommendations, and technical solutions to clients and project teams.


• Support proposal development, interviews, and pursuit strategies for new opportunities.

Strategy & Practice Growth

• Help shape the strategic direction and long-term growth of the Building Enclosure Rehabilitation & Restoration practice.


• Participate in annual business planning, including growth initiatives, staffing plans, training programs, and revenue objectives.


• Monitor market trends, industry developments, and client needs to identify emerging opportunities.


• Support operational improvements that enhance efficiency, profitability, and client satisfaction.


• Contribute to department forecasting, performance tracking, and resource planning.

What You’ll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.


• Active Registered Architect (RA) license required.


• 10+ years of experience in building enclosure consulting, architecture, building science, rehabilitation, restoration, forensic investigation, or existing building consulting.


• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing client relationships.


• Strong knowledge of building enclosure systems, including roofing, waterproofing, facades, fenestration, air barriers, vapor barriers, and exterior wall assemblies.


• Experience conducting building assessments, investigations, and developing repair or rehabilitation strategies.


• Demonstrated leadership experience with team management, operational oversight, project delivery, and business development.


• Strong financial, project management, and operational planning capabilities.


• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.


• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with clients, colleagues, and industry stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with restoration, rehabilitation, modernization, or capital improvement projects for existing buildings.


• Experience with building enclosure investigations, water intrusion evaluations, and forensic consulting.


• Experience mentoring and developing technical professionals.


• Additional building enclosure, building science, or industry certifications.


• Established industry relationships and business development experience.

Why Work with Lerch Bates?

• Competitive base salary of $140,000 - $165,000 per year, based on experience, qualifications, and location


• Annual performance-based bonus opportunity, with target incentive levels varying by position and based on individual and company performance.


• 100% Employee-Owned ESOP (company-funded retirement benefit that allows eligible employees to share in the company’s long-term success)


• Health, dental, and vision insurance


• Paid time off (starting at 17 days annually)


• 10 paid holidays


• 401(k) with 6% employer match


• Paid parental leave


• Professional development and tuition reimbursement


• Employee assistance and wellness programs

Become an Employee-Owner

One of the biggest advantages of working at Lerch Bates is that we are 100% employee-owned through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Unlike many companies that offer only a salary and retirement plan, eligible employees receive company-funded ESOP shares at no cost to them as part of their long-term retirement benefits. As Lerch Bates grows, employee-owners share in the company’s success. For many employees, the ESOP becomes one of the most valuable financial benefits of their career by helping build meaningful long-term wealth in addition to their salary and traditional 401(k). When you join Lerch Bates, you are not just building better buildings. You also have the opportunity to build your financial future alongside the company’s success.

Core Values

Ownership

• Community


• Integrity


• Respect


• Optimism

Working Environment

This position is performed in a combination of office, remote, client, and field environments. Regular travel to project sites is required and may include commercial buildings, occupied facilities, active construction sites, industrial locations, rooftops, and other environments where building evaluations, testing, or construction observations are performed. Work may occur indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, climb stairs and ladders, and navigate active construction sites and existing buildings. Employees may be required to access rooftops, traverse uneven terrain, work at elevated heights, and enter confined or restricted spaces as project conditions require. Frequent use of computers, keyboards, measuring equipment, and handheld devices is required. Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds may be required. Employees must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety footwear, hearing protection, and fall protection when applicable. Travel by automobile and occasional air travel may be required.

Mental Demands

This position requires strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills. Employees must be able to interpret construction documents, building codes, technical specifications, engineering data, and field observations while exercising sound professional judgment. The role requires managing multiple projects, balancing competing priorities, meeting deadlines, and adapting to changing project conditions. Effective written and verbal communication, technical report writing, client presentations, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and attention to detail are essential.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug test. The drug test includes screening for marijuana, regardless of state or local laws permitting its use. A conditional offer of employment will be rescinded if a candidate fails either the background check or the drug test. This requirement is mandated by federal regulations applicable to our government contracting obligations.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.