Registered Architect Project Lead & Ownership Track

Archinect; Shelby (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Archinect in Shelby, NC is seeking a Registered Architect with 10+ years of experience to lead projects from concept through construction administration. You will manage timelines, budgets, and client relations, with direct influence on the firm’s direction.

This is a pathway toward ownership and strategic leadership within a close-knit practice. The role emphasizes visibility, accountability, and a collaborative, community-focused work environment in a firm with deep local roots.

Qualifications

• Active registered architect license or reciprocity eligibility.
• 10+ years of progressive architectural experience.
• Experience across multiple project types; versatility valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from concept through construction administration.
• Manage timelines and budgets, coordinate with engineers and consultants.
• Maintain direct client relationships and provide clear project direction.

Skills

Leadership

Client communication

Project management

Strategic thinking

Education

Registered Architect license

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Rhino

D5 Render

Job description

Registered Architect Project Lead & Ownership Track

Shelby, NC, US Location:
Tue, Jul 21 '26 Posted on:
Full-time Type:

Are You Ready to Lead, Not Just Perform?

If you’ve spent a decade or more mastering your craft in a larger firm, you know the work. You’ve led projects, managed clients, and delivered results across complex assignments. But somewhere along the way, the commute got longer, the org chart got taller, and the work that used to energize you started to feel like a grind.

About the Firm

This is a small, tight-knit, full-service architecture practice, five people strong, with more than 70 years of history in Cleveland County and the surrounding region. The firm has earned its longevity the old-fashioned way: through strong client relationships, consistent delivery, and a reputation that keeps clients coming back generation after generation.

It is a firm where the principal knows every project and every client personally. The portfolio is intentionally broad. Over seven decades, the firm has built expertise across commercial, municipal, residential, manufacturing, religious, and addition/alteration work, serving a loyal base of repeat clients who value the firm’s continuity and deep local knowledge.

This is not a transactional practice. It is a community institution, and the next leader will help carry that forward.

What You’ll Do

You’ll serve as the senior architectural lead on projects from concept through construction administration, with direct client responsibility and real influence over the firm’s direction. Project types span the full breadth of practice:

• Commercial design and tenant improvements
• Additions & Alterations across a variety of building types
• Municipal and public facilities
• Manufacturing & Industrial facilities
• Religious & Faith Community projects

Experience with historic preservation is a meaningful plus, and the firm welcomes that expertise. You’ll manage project timelines and budgets, coordinate with engineers and consultants, work directly with clients, and help guide the team. This is not a role where you disappear into production, you’ll have visibility, voice, and real impact from day one.

What We’re Looking For

• Active Registered Architect license, NC license or reciprocity eligibility required
• 10 or more years of progressive architectural experience
• Demonstrated experience across multiple project types, versatility matters more than specialization
• Strong command of all project phases: programming, SD, DD, CDs, bidding, and CA
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, and Rhino; experience with D5 Render or comparable 3D visualization is a plus
• Excellent client communication skills, comfortable with owners, contractors, and municipal officials
• NCARB certification preferred
• Historic preservation experience a plus (HABS documentation, Secretary of Interior Standards familiarity)

The Opportunity, In Plain Terms

This is not a lateral move. This is a step toward ownership. The firm principal is committed to bringing in a true leader, someone who will carry significant responsibility and share in the firm’s future. Part ownership of the firm is on the table for the right candidate, with that transition expected within approximately six months of hire. This is not a vague someday promise. It is the intent and the plan.

Compensation is structured to reflect that reality: a competitive base salary commensurate with experience, paired with a near-term ownership stake in a firm with 70+ years of established client relationships and community standing. The full compensation picture, base salary, ownership structure, and transition timeline, will be discussed openly with qualified candidates.

For an architect who has performed at a high level in a larger firm but wants genuine autonomy, community connection, and a real stake in what they’re building, this is a rare offer.

Location & Lifestyle

Shelby, NC sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge in Cleveland County, about 45 minutes west of Charlotte. It offers a quality of life that is genuinely hard to find: lower cost of living, short commutes, strong community ties, and easy access to the mountains and the city alike.

If you’ve been commuting into Charlotte and wondering what it would look like to actually live close to where you work, and to matter in the community where you practice, this is worth a conversation.

This search is being conducted on behalf of the client firm. All inquiries will be handled confidentially.