The organization is a well-established architecture and design firm focused on delivering innovative, functional, and sustainable solutions across a diverse range of projects. The team brings together expertise in architectural design, planning, project development, and client collaboration. With a strong focus on design quality, creativity, and community impact, the organization works to create thoughtful spaces that meet both practical and aesthetic requirements.
Position Overview
The Studio Director is a key leadership position responsible for leading a studio and overseeing 3+ management teams and approximately 10–15 employees.
The Studio Director will oversee approximately $3M in annual studio fees and may manage 3–5 projects with combined net fees of approximately $1M–$1.5M annually.
The role will be responsible for:
- Studio leadership and operations
- Multifamily project oversight
- Business development and client relationships
- Project quality and delivery
- Team development and staffing
- Financial forecasting and budgeting
- Studio profitability and utilization
- Contract, proposal, scope, and fee management
General Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited Architecture or Interior Design program
- 20+ years of professional experience
- 10+ years of management/leadership experience
- Licensed to practice Architecture in California or the applicable state
- Recent Multifamily Architecture experience — MANDATORY
- Strong multitasking, delegation, and decision-making abilities
- Positive and collaborative leadership approach
Professional Skills
Candidates should demonstrate strong experience with:
- Multifamily architectural design and planning
- Architectural design and planning principles
- Building materials and construction techniques
- Project costs, budgets, and financial management
- Architectural contracts, proposals, and negotiations
- Construction administration
- Building and planning codes
- Representing clients before public agencies
- Coordination with applicable engineering disciplines
- Legal and professional liability considerations
- Lead and oversee multiple project teams simultaneously
- Oversee studio milestones, staffing, budgets, profitability, and financial forecasts
- Delegate Project Management and Project Architecture responsibilities
- Serve as Senior Project Manager when required
- Mentor and develop management and intermediate-level staff
- Lead weekly studio scheduling and staffing meetings
- Review project fees, budgets, staffing allocations, and schedules
- Meet regularly with the COO regarding studio staffing and financial performance
- Maintain strong studio utilization, targeting 85%+ when sufficient backlog is available
Business Development & Client Management
- Participate in presentations and interviews with prospective clients
- Develop new business opportunities
- Contribute to sales and marketing initiatives
- Build and maintain strong client relationships
- Serve as an executive-level client contact
- Review and negotiate proposals, contracts, scope, and fees
- Support project quality, fee management, and collections
- Attend business development events and represent the firm professionally
Leadership & Team Development