Studio Leader

About the Firm

Smith Group is an integrated design firm that cultivates a top‑ranked culture while pioneering award‑winning innovative design solutions. We blend research, data and technology with ingenuity and a creative spirit to deliver resilient, inclusive spaces that solve our clients’ greatest challenges. Our teams create exceptional design solutions for healthcare, science and technology, workplace, mixed use, higher education, cultural, waterfront, parks and open spaces, and urban environments.

The Detroit office of Smith Group is looking for a Cities Studio Leader to join our team. In a time of unprecedented urban growth and change, our Cities team collaborates with clients and leads with responsive, creative city‑building to realize the greatest benefits for communities. We partner the public and private sectors and with community members to create resilient, human‑centered solutions that make a real difference for the future of a city and its residents.

Our multidisciplinary professionals have dedicated their careers to addressing the complex challenges that communities are facing. We bring together experts in urban planning, engineering, architecture and landscape architecture, creating diverse teams that work across the full range of project scales.

• Grow practice market share and net revenue in conjunction with regional, local, and national teams.
• Provide leadership and management to develop and grow the studio in line with Smith Group’s strategic themes of values‑led, mission‑forward design, increased influence and agency, expanding services to broaden impact, solving problems clients can’t yet name, and fostering a culture of curiosity, wonder and extraordinary people.
• Maintain relationships with past clients and develop relationships with current or new clients while working closely with Business Development, Marketing and market leaders to market and grow services.
• Work with the Regional Director and Market Director to ensure marketing and sales budgets, revenue and project performance targets are achieved and studio issues are addressed.
• Provide leadership and be actively involved in projects through all phases, from initial client contacts through marketing pursuits, sales efforts, contract negotiations, project kick‑off, feasibility studies, strategic planning, master planning, programming, conceptual studies, schematic, design, design development, construction documentation, bidding and award, construction administration, move‑in, follow‑up and ongoing client relationship maintenance.
• Serve as principal‑in‑charge on a limited number of key projects and be accountable for the financial performance of those projects and the studio collectively.
• Participate in recruiting, coaching and career development of staff.
• Be actively involved in professional, civic or community activities that support the goals and core values of Smith Group.

• A professional degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Real Estate, Architecture, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, or an equivalent combination of related experience and training.
• Fifteen or more years of industry experience preferred, and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience in the AE industry.
• Registration or licensure in a relevant field; LEED AP preferred.
• Proven leadership and a track record of winning work and growing market share in planning and construction projects.
• Demonstrated effectiveness and a strong commitment to working in a team setting, delivering high client satisfaction and technical competence.
• Strong business development, professional and civic involvement leadership skills.
• Strong business acumen and critical‑thinking skills.
• Ability to take responsibility and ownership to meet standards, budgets, schedules and deadlines.
• High degree of self‑awareness, self‑management, social awareness and relationship management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel 25‑35 % of the time.

We offer flexible scheduling, a hybrid work environment, three weeks of PTO within the first year of employment with the option to purchase additional…