Job Description

OVERVIEW:

Our client is a nationally recognized architecture, planning, and design firm with a distinguished portfolio in higher education. With offices nationwide, the firm brings multi-market expertise and resources while maintaining an entrepreneurial, collaborative studio culture.

Known for design excellence and strategic problem-solving, their work emphasizes sustainable, community-focused solutions that respond to each project's unique context. The firm's higher education portfolio includes award-winning work for major university systems, providing a strong foundation for expanding their Texas presence. The firm's culture prioritizes open collaboration, diverse perspectives, and shared leadership. They value talented professionals who bring both design excellence and authentic client relationships, fostering an environment where business development, design quality, and team development are equally important.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Our client seeks a Principal to lead business development, client relationships, and design excellence for their Austin office. The ideal candidate has deep Texas higher education connections and can drive revenue growth while maintaining the firm's high standards for design quality and collaborative culture.

This is a unique opportunity to join an established office with existing market credibility and multi-office firm resources while having significant autonomy to shape and grow the Texas higher education practice. The Principal will balance business development with design leadership and project delivery, with minimal operational responsibilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Business Development Leadership

• Lead pursuit strategy for higher education projects across Texas, with primary focus on university systems (UT, Texas A&M, regional universities, community colleges)
• Build and maintain relationships with university leadership, facility planning directors, and decision-makers throughout Texas
• Represent the firm at industry conferences, association events, and strategic networking opportunities including SCUP, AIA CAE, and Texas university facility planning conferences
• Generate immediate revenue impact by leveraging existing Texas higher education relationships and pursuing new opportunities

Design Leadership & Project Delivery

• Serve as Principal-in-Charge on multiple concurrent higher education projects, ensuring design quality, profitability, and successful delivery
• Provide design direction and vision that maintains the firm's standards of excellence
• Manage client relationships on active projects, serving as primary point of contact
• Coordinate with project teams across multiple offices
• Balance business development with hands-on design involvement as portfolio grows
• Transition to greater design focus over time as business development pipeline stabilizes

Market Leadership

• Represent the firm as a key leader in the Texas higher education market
• Support and mentor local Austin team members
• Collaborate with leadership across the firm's national office network
• Contribute to firm-wide strategic initiatives related to higher education sector growth
• Maintain and enhance office culture aligned with firm-wide values

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Experience & Credentials

• 20+ years of progressive architectural experience with demonstrated project leadership on complex, large-scale projects
• Licensed architect required; LEED AP or sustainable design credentials preferred
• Significant Principal-in-Charge experience managing multiple concurrent higher education projects

Texas Higher Education Market Expertise

• Deep, established relationships with Texas university leadership, facility planning directors, and decision-makers across UT System, Texas A&M System, regional universities, and community colleges
• Known and respected in Texas higher education architecture community with credibility that opens doors immediately
• Comprehensive understanding of Texas political dynamics, funding mechanisms (state appropriations, tuition revenue bonds, capital campaigns), and procurement processes including HUB requirements

Business Development & Design Excellence

• Documented success bringing in higher education projects with portfolio demonstrating ability to win work, not just support pursuits
• Strong design capabilities with portfolio of award-worthy built work including STEM buildings, student centers, research facilities, libraries, and learning commons
• Proven ability to lead design teams, provide creative direction, and balance client relationships with design excellence
• Strategic thinker comfortable driving revenue generation with heavy initial business development focus while maintaining high design standards

Leadership & Cultural fit

• Collaborative, open-minded approach that values diverse perspectives and inclusive culture—not ego-driven mentality
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with comfort representing firm at high-level meetings with university presidents, provosts, and facility planning leadership Supportive leadership style that develops others and thrives in team-based, multi-office environment
• Experience with multi-office firm dynamics and understanding of integrated project delivery preferred

This position provides a pathway to partnership based on performance, with the unique advantage of joining an established office that has existing client relationships and market credibility. The role offers significant autonomy to drive business development and design direction while leveraging multi-office firm resources, focusing on what matters most, winning work and delivering design excellence rather than operational management. Compensation includes a competitive base salary commensurate with experience, performance bonus structure tied to business development success, partnership track with profit sharing and equity participation, and comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement plan with firm contribution, and professional development support. The firm's collaborative, non-bureaucratic culture provides opportunities to work alongside nationally recognized design leaders in an environment that values diverse perspectives and supports long-term professional growth.

The Texas higher education market presents significant growth opportunities with multiple university systems maintaining ongoing capital needs despite a competitive landscape. The firm's strong higher education portfolio, combined with the right leader's Texas relationships and design capabilities, creates a differentiated competitive position that can win work against established Texas competitors. This role offers an exceptional opportunity to step into established leadership with client relationships and firm resources as a foundation, while having the autonomy to shape strategy and build on that foundation for long-term success.

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