Studio Director

Westside Build; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

Mentorship culture

Job summary

Westside Build, in collaboration with Westside Design, seeks a Studio Director to lead a full-service design-build studio in Santa Monica. The role encompasses client management, contracts, design direction, and delivery leadership across BIM modeling and permit-ready production.

The ideal candidate brings 13+ years in architecture or design-build, 8+ years leading complex residential projects, and 5+ years in senior leadership, with strong communication and governance skills for fast-moving

Qualifications

• 13+ years of professional experience in architecture, residential design-build, or a comparable studio environment.
• 8+ years leading complex residential projects through design, technical coordination, and delivery.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role spanning client management, contracts, team oversight, and project execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead the studio across client service, project execution, staffing, and day-to-day operations.
• Serve as a senior leader guiding studio priorities and unblock issues across multiple active projects.
• Partner with leadership on studio structure, resourcing, and operational effectiveness.
• Mentor staff and reinforce accountability, communication, and cross-functional coordination.
• Oversee contracts, technical issues, and construction administration for coordinated delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Design coordination

Technical coordination

BIM coordination

Contract review

Construction Administration

Team supervision

Communication

CA (Construction Administration)

Tools

Revit

Job description

Westside Design, in partnership with Westside Build, is a Santa Monica-based design and construction firm rebuilding homes across the Pacific Palisades in the wake of the wildfire. We bring architecture, design, and construction under one roof, with a strong emphasis on technology, speed, and craft.

We are looking for a Studio Director to lead an entire studio across client management, contracts, design, technical coordination, and delivery. This is a senior leadership role for someone who can operate as a broad-based leader rather than a narrow specialist, someone who can move between client conversations, project strategy, technical issues, team leadership, and day-to-day studio needs with ease.

This role is intended to be more of a multi-tool leadership position: a person who can talk about contracts, deal with clients, guide design, engage technical and CA issues, and help support the Managing Principal lead the full studio. The Studio Director will directly lead our Project Managers and Project Architects, who are responsible for BIM model development, construction documentation, and permit-ready deliverables in Revit. You will set the design intent and quality bar that the team documents and executes against, review their work at key milestones, and serve as the design authority they elevate to on coordination, code, and client-facing design decisions.

Requirements

• 13+ years of professional experience in architecture, residential design-build, or a comparable studio environment
• 8+ years leading complex residential projects through design, technical coordination, and delivery
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role spanning client management, contracts, team oversight, and project execution
• Residential experience, especially custom homes, ADUs, and rebuild work
• Proven ability to lead across contracts, client management, design discussions, technical coordination, and CA
• Strong leadership presence and sound judgment in a fast-moving environment
• Experience overseeing teams, projects, and multiple stakeholder relationships
• Strong communication skills and the ability to operate effectively with clients, internal teams, and leadership
• Must bring direct experience in a comparable leadership seat; this is not intended as a step-up role from PM or senior project architect

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years in a role such as Studio Director, Senior Project Manager, Design Director, or similar leadership role
• Experience in integrated architecture/construction or design-build settings
• Familiarity with consultant coordination, construction documentation, and field-related problem solving

Studio Leadership

• Lead the overall performance of the studio across client service, project execution, staffing coordination, and day-to-day operations
• Serve as a senior leader helping guide studio priorities, unblock issues, and maintain momentum across multiple active projects
• Partner with firm leadership on studio structure, resourcing, and operational effectiveness
• Help create accountability across the studio by following up on open items, pushing decisions forward, and keeping workstreams moving

Client & Project Leadership

• Serve as a senior point of contact for clients and help manage relationships across active work
• Navigate project conversations across scope, contracts, design, technical coordination, and delivery
• Step into difficult project situations and help resolve issues with sound judgment and a broad understanding of project needs
• Balance design intent, technical requirements, coordination demands, and client expectations across the life of a project

Contracts, Technical Oversight & CA

• Engage directly in contract review, contract language discussions, and related project risk items as needed
• Provide high-level oversight on technical issues and support teams in resolving project coordination challenges
• Participate in CA-related discussions and help ensure project issues are being surfaced and addressed appropriately
• Act as a senior escalation point when projects need broader leadership attention beyond pure design questions

Team Leadership

• Help supervise and support team members working across design, project delivery, and technical execution
• Provide oversight and direction to staff who need support coordinating clients, internal standards, and changing project demands
• Mentor team members and help reinforce expectations for accountability, communication, and cross-functional coordination
• Work closely with leadership to identify where additional supervision or stronger management coverage is needed

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule: four days in-office, one day remote
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• A collaborative, innovative work environment with a supportive culture focused on mentorship and growth

Compensation: Commensurate with experience and scope of leadership responsibility. The salary range for this role is $140,000-$170,000.