Williams Architects Aquatics is seeking an Office Director for our Chicago, IL office. This individual will be an experienced Project Manager and Illinois Licensed Architect with an interest in firm management, staff mentoring, and business development. The position will primarily be based in our River North office with occasional travel to our Itasca corporate headquarters for collaboration with firm senior management. This position offers the opportunity for substantial individual contributions to the success of the firm, with the potential for future equity ownership with demonstrated sustained success.
Roles and responsibilities of the Office Director include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Management and supervision of all staff (currently 5) in our Chicago office, including mentoring, assignment of tasks, and daily direction.
- Substantial role in business development, particularly for projects located within the City. • Primary contact and manager for Owner on assigned projects. Regular verbal and written contact with clients and consultants, including preparation of meeting agendas and minutes. • May also assume role and responsibilities of Project Architect on certain projects. • Completes time records, expense reports, and other required financial documentation in a timely manner. • Responsibility for successful delivery, quality control/assurance, and budget conformance on all projects. Oversees complete, coordinated set of design and construction documents for all sizes of projects. • Prepares and updates documentation as required by the firm's project management standards. • Responsible for project financial performance and profitability, including short- and long-term scheduling of required staff and monitoring of labor budgets and staff hours. • Reviews and approves monthly invoices from consultants. • Reviews draft monthly invoices to Owner; recommends billing percentages to Principals. • Develops project schedule(s) and conducts meetings / submissions required with Owner and internal project teams to achieve proper project outcomes and schedule conformance. • Prepares owner-architect agreements in consultation with Principal-In-Charge; continuously monitors project scope and Owner direction for potential additional services; prepares and secures approval of additional services requests when warranted. • Prepares consultant agreements and negotiates consultant fees in accordance with overall fees and firm profit expectations. • Understands all applicable and known code and zoning requirements for a project and ensures compliance with same in design and construction documents. • Prepares or supervises preparation of estimates of construction cost. • Makes judgments and decisions required to conform project scope and direction to Owner's available budget, including alternate bid items and cost reduction strategies; monitors work of project team to ensure compliance. • Ensures documentation of known and foreseeable existing conditions for remodeling and addition projects, accounts for existing conditions in design and construction documents. • Understanding of computer software required to accomplish project assignments. • Oversees construction administration activities of team members. • Prepares front-end and bidding documents for projects as required. • Leads an aspect of firm management such as standards development and documentation. • Active participation / occasional leadership in business development activities including project interviews with potential clients, including scheduled evening and/or weekend times. • Participation in client meetings and presentations, including scheduled evening and/or weekend times. • Performs other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience Required:
Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture or architectural studies.
12+ years of progressive architectural experience within an architectural firm in all phases of non-residential projects, with at least five years of experience in public sector, public bid projects such as recreation, municipal, library, K-12, or higher education.
State of Illinois architecture license required (or ability to obtain via reciprocity)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong organization, multi-tasking, and time management skills.
Experience and interest in business development highly desirable.
Ability to interact professionally with office leadership and clients.
Ability to self-manage tasks from start to finish with minimal oversight.
We offer an industry-leading benefit package including competitive compensation, opportunity to work remotely on Fridays, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, fifteen paid vacation days per year, ten paid sick/personal days per year, ten paid holidays per year, and eligibility for the firm's profit-sharing plan.
Qualified and interested candidates should submit a resume and work samples illustrating professional experience in both design phase activities and construction document production.
We will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization at this time. Williams Architects Aquatics is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Prior to a final offer of employment, the selected candidate will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
We will not be working with recruiters to fill this position at this time.