Studio Director - Multifamily Studio Job Piedmont area,California USA,Design & Architecture

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

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Please do not submit candidates whose multifamily experience is outdated, limited, or not directly relevant.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…