Position: Studio Director – Multifamily Studio
Location: California / Office Location
Base Salary:$150K
About the Organization
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.
CRITICAL CLIENT REQUIREMENT
The selected candidate will serve as the Studio Director for the firm's Multifamily Studio.
Recent and relevant Multifamily Architecture experience is MANDATORY.
Please do not submit candidates whose multifamily experience is outdated, limited, or not directly relevant. Candidates should have recent, substantial experience leading or managing multifamily architectural projects/studios, along with strong architectural leadership and project management experience.
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
- Proven Studio/Design Leadership experience
- 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
- Construction documents
- 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
Studio Director Responsibilities
- 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
- Determine project staffing requirements
- Participate in interviewing and hiring recommendations
- Provide promotion recommendations
- Mentor and develop team members
- Support conflict resolution and organizational policies
- Assist with establishing and implementing studio and firm policies and procedures
Communication & Professional Expectations
- Represent the firm at meetings, presentations, and public hearings
- Maintain high standards for written communication and project documentation
- Maintain professional presentation and conduct
- Community and professional organization involvement is desirable but not required