Education Studio Leader

Smith Group is an integrated design firm with a reputation for cultivating 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.

We are looking for passionate problem solvers who want to elevate design, push boundaries and create a more resilient future.

The Houston office of Smith Group is looking for a Higher Education Studio Leader to join our team.

• Be responsible for growing practice market share and net revenue by winning work and assisting teams in profitably delivering design excellence and client satisfaction.
• Provide leadership and management necessary for the development and growth of the studio consistent with Smith Group's strategic themes of growing the firm, building expertise, and designing holistically.
• Maintain relationships with past clients and develop relationships with current/new clients.
• Work with the Regional Director and the Regional Practice Director to ensure that marketing & sales budgets, revenue, and project performance targets are achieved and that studio issues are addressed.
• Work closely with practice leadership, Business Development, and Marketing to strategically grow the studio aligned with practice goals; effectively represent our services; and contribute to thought leadership initiatives including national practice forums and presentations at regional and national conferences.
• 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 on‑going client relationship maintenance.
• Work with discipline leaders and staff assuring the technical, administrative, and schedule targets are met.
• Develop and implement strategic objectives in concert with the practice and regional objectives.
• Consistently exhibit and demonstrate a commitment to Smith Group core values - passion, sustainability, equity, community, curiosity, and integrity.
• Make authoritative decisions and recommendations in concert with the regional leadership that may impact primary activities, strategic objectives, guidelines, quality, standards, and principles of the region and firm as a whole.
• Lead/coordinate communication efforts within assigned studio and between other studio leaders.
• Participate in recruiting, coaching, and career development of staff.

• A professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Engineering, or equivalent combination of related experience and/or training.
• 15+ years related experience preferred and/or training (or equivalent combination of education and experience) in the AE Industry.
• Registration or licensure in relevant field; LEED AP preferred.
• Demonstrated effectiveness and a strong commitment to working in a team setting, delivering high client satisfaction and technical competence.
• Strong leadership skills in the areas of business development; professional and civic involvement.
• Strong business acumen and critical thinking skills in the pursuit of the work.
• The ability to take responsibility and ownership to meet standards, budgets, schedules, and deadlines.
• A high degree of self‑awareness,…