Registered Architect – Shelby, NC

AIA South Carolina (AIA/SC); Shelby (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership stake opportunity

Job summary

AIA South Carolina (AIA/SC) in Shelby, NC is seeking a mid-career Registered Architect ready to step into leadership and ownership. The role centers on guiding projects from concept through construction administration, while building lasting client relationships in Cleveland County.

Qualifications include 10+ years of progressive architectural experience, strong communication, and proficiency in AutoCAD; Revit, Rhino, and D5 Render are a plus.

Qualifications

• Must hold NC architecture license or reciprocity eligibility.
• 10+ years of progressive architectural experience.
• Experience across multiple project types; versatility valued.
• Strong command of all project phases: programming, SD, DD, CDs, bidding, and CA.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD; experience with Revit, Rhino, 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).

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from concept through construction administration with direct client responsibility.
• Manage project timelines and budgets.
• Coordinate with engineers and consultants; work directly with clients.
• Provide visibility, voice, and real impact from day one.

Job description

Project Lead & Ownership Track

Location: Shelby, NC (Cleveland County)

Experience: 10+ Years

Type: Full-Time | Licensed

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.

This is a different kind of opportunity.

A well-established, respected Architecture Firm in Shelby, NC is looking for a mid-career Registered Architect who is ready to step into a leadership role, and into ownership. We’re looking for someone who wants their name to mean something in the community where they work, not just on a project credit line.

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 throughout North and South Carolina. 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 one of two senior architectural leads 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; experience with Revit, and Rhino, 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 to one year 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.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume, project list (with project types noted), and a brief cover letter describing their experience and interest in this role. All inquiries are handled confidentially.

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