Senior Architect

Job Title: Senior Architect - Design Lead

Clark Nexsen is seeking a highly skilled Senior Architect - Design Lead to join our team. As a key member of our design team, you will be responsible for leading architectural design services on multi-discipline building design projects of moderate to large scope.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead architectural design services, including conceptual studies, programming, schematic documents, design development documents, and construction documents.
• Concurrently lead several projects of moderate complexity and scope when required by schedule and/or resource constraints.
• Meet with clients to prepare and/or validate proposed scope of services.
• Assist in presenting projects to clients, contractors, project team members, AHJ's, and members of the public through all stages of the project.
• Manage the architectural portion of multi-discipline projects and work with assigned Project Managers to meet project budget, schedule, goals, and objectives.
• Coordinate, supervise, and communicate all aspects of the architectural design within multi-discipline teams to ensure that architectural design details integrate properly with all other disciplines.
• Communicate with the Contractor on Design-Build projects to verify suitability of systems selected.
• Direct and supervise the work of Architects, Interns, and Designers assigned to the project.
• Manage and supervise architectural support services associated with the bidding process, including preparing addenda and amendments and opening and tabulating bids.
• Manage and supervise architectural support services associated with the construction phase, including field visits, answering RFIs, reviewing shop drawings, and preparing record drawings.
• Ensure staff compliance with quality control policies and procedures.
• Work with, respond to, and take direction from Managing Principals, Project Managers, Design Managers, and senior management.
• Actively support Company marketing and business development activities.
• Establish and maintain positive client relationships.
• Provide technical guidance to architectural staff.
• Mentor and monitor the professional development of architectural staff.
• Assist Department Director and Department Head in developing new and/or revised processes and procedures.
• Represent the Managing Principal, Project Manager, or Department Head when they are unavailable.
• Lead staff training sessions.
• Provide input to Department Head on staff annual performance reviews.

Project Responsibilities:

• Perform Project Manager duties as assigned.
• Serve in the role of Design Manager on projects as assigned.
• Responsible for discipline design and documentation.
• Responsible for discipline coordination of plans and specifications.
• Develop discipline design approach and methodology.
• Develop discipline project plan and production methodology.
• Responsible for establishing discipline sustainable design approach.
• Create and maintain project architectural design notebook.
• Confirm project planning & program requirements.
• Develop building systems analysis & selection.
• Establish building envelope design components.
• Establish building & site control dimensions.
• Prepare scope and fee proposals for project architectural services.
• Assist MP and PM in development of project proposals, budgets & schedules.
• Review and approve discipline code analysis prepared by design team.
• Review and approve discipline specifications prepared by the design team.
• Respond to RFI's, Dr Check comments, etc.
• Lead discipline bidding and construction administration activities.
• Perform discipline QA/QC reviews on assigned projects.
• Back-check discipline QC team comments.
• Monitor and adhere to project budget & schedule.
• May require domestic and foreign travel.

Education, Technology, and Experience:

• Bachelor of Architecture from an NAAB-accredited program -or-
• Masters of Architecture (MA must be from an NAAB-accredited program)
• Must be a fully licensed Architect in at least one US state, preferably in the local jurisdiction
• NCARB certified to facilitate licensure through reciprocity is preferred
• Understanding of sustainable design principles and design practices with LEED AP accreditation preferred
• Additional certifications such as CDT, CCS, or CCCA are encouraged to reflect personal growth in the profession and an ever-increasing knowledge base to enhance the design and documentation process
• A Senior Architect - Design Lead should be able to effectively utilize current company software programs for word processing, e-mail, accounting, and information management.
• Working familiarity with design and production software to a point of being able to understand the capabilities and limitations of the programs and interact with the support staff in their use of the software is highly desirable.
• A Senior Architect - Design Lead should have 10 years or more of significant design and practice experience in a leadership role with an architectural firm or a multi-discipline Architectural & Engineering firm.
• Experience as a lead designer or Architect in federal, state, municipal, healthcare, commercial, higher education or similar projects plus experience in Design/Build and CM at Risk project delivery methods is desirable.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Provide design leadership and innovation, inspiring and guiding projects to successful outcomes.
• Initiate aesthetically pleasing designs, translating ideas into visual representations using sketches, drawings, and modeling.
• Collaborate with the design team to maximize project design efficiency and quality, avoiding false starts or rework.
• Mentor junior designers and architects to foster a collaborative, innovative work environment.
• Efficiently produce design ideas and solutions, serving as a firm resource across multiple projects and initiatives.
• Independently lead and execute projects of the highest complexity.
• Support firmwide design culture through activities like design pinups, initiatives, pursuits, and awards programs.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with team members and clients.
• Proficient in software tools including Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and others.
• Collaborate with project management to develop and manage design budgets and schedules, ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Possess a proficient understanding of architectural construction, contract documents, basic codes, and sustainability requirements.
• Recognized as an architectural leader or subject matter expert within the firm and/or by clients.
• Actively participate in professional and/or community organizations.

Physical Requirements:

Work is sedentary and often performed in an office setting. The work area is lighted, heated, and ventilated. This position may require extended periods of standing, sitting, as well as some repetitive movements, bending and lifting of minimal weight. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Workplace Flexibility:

We have selected two common days in the office to nurture collaboration and innovation and to support learning and growth through engagement with colleagues. We are asking everyone to be present on Mondays and Thursdays, with a required third day that will provide additional flexibility and be set between you and your supervisor (with consideration given to your project team members and clients).

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

Together we discover, inspire, and shape ideas that transform our world. We design for a greater purpose. Our culture results from a collective effort to innovate and inspire, to support and challenge to impact and transform. Great ideas are the result of collaboration between individuals with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and passions. Our process advances communities through discovery and design. We believe ideas have the power to change the world.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities:

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR c)

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