Principal Architect

Principal Architect

An established and growing multidisciplinary design practice is seeking an accomplished Principal Architect to lead the operations, people, and project delivery efforts for a thriving Reno office. This is a unique opportunity for a strategic architectural leader who is equally passionate about design excellence, business growth, and developing high performing teams. The selected leader will play an instrumental role in expanding the firm's market presence while cultivating an engaging culture centered on collaboration, innovation, and exceptional client service.

This role offers:

• Opportunity to lead an established architecture practice with significant influence over operations and long-term growth.
• Highly visible executive leadership role with the ability to shape culture, strategy, and business performance.
• Diverse portfolio of complex and meaningful projects across multiple commercial markets.
• Collaborative environment that values innovation, accountability, professional development, and design excellence.
• Competitive executive compensation package, comprehensive benefits, and long-term career growth.

What you will do:

• Provide executive leadership for the architectural practice, ensuring operational excellence and successful project delivery.
• Guide office strategy, staffing, utilization, financial performance, and resource planning.
• Promote a team-oriented environment that encourages ownership, professional growth, and ongoing operational excellence.
• Mentor architects, project managers, designers, and emerging leaders through coaching and professional development.
• Oversee multiple complex projects while ensuring quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction objectives are consistently achieved.
• Develop and maintain trusted partnerships with customers, industry professionals, project stakeholders, and local organizations.
• Lead business development initiatives through networking, client engagement, presentations, interviews, and proposal development.
• Monitor financial performance, including revenue, profitability, forecasting, backlog, and operational metrics.
• Champion quality assurance, risk management, and best practices across project teams.
• Drive innovation in project delivery, technology adoption, BIM workflows, and operational processes.
• Partner with executive leadership on strategic planning, organizational growth, succession planning, and future market expansion.
• Represent the firm professionally within the architectural community and regional industry organizations.

Required qualifications:

• Registered Architect (RA) license required.
• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from an accredited institution.
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible architectural leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading complex commercial, civic, education, healthcare, hospitality, or mixed use projects.
• Proven leadership overseeing multidisciplinary teams through all phases of design and construction.
• Strong background in operational leadership, project delivery, business development, client relationship management, and financial performance.
• Experience mentoring architects, project managers, and design professionals.
• Thorough understanding of building codes, construction documentation, project delivery methods, and quality management practices.
• Proficiency with Revit, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to travel periodically to client meetings and project sites.

Preferred qualifications:

• 15 or more years of architectural leadership experience.
• Previous leadership experience within an architecture, engineering, or multidisciplinary design practice.
• NCARB Certification.
• LEED AP, WELL AP, or other sustainability credential.
• Experience implementing operational improvements, BIM standards, or technology initiatives.
• Active involvement in AIA or other professional organizations.

About Blue Signal:

Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services.