Director of Operations - Building Envelope Rehabilitation; Licensed Architect

Department: Existing Building

Lerch Bates is seeking a hands‑on, entrepreneurial licensed Architect to lead our Building Envelope Rehabilitation practice. This is a technical leadership role for an experienced professional who enjoys leading teams while remaining actively involved in project execution.

As the Director, you will oversee project delivery, team performance, business operations, and strategic growth while continuing to contribute directly to investigations, rehabilitation design, repair strategies, and modernization projects for existing buildings. This role is focused on existing building rehabilitation and restoration, not new construction design.

You will serve as both a business leader and technical advisor, guiding project teams, developing client relationships, mentoring staff, and helping drive the continued growth of the practice.

Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high‑profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that integrates Building Science and Building Flow into a unified delivery model.

Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, rehabilitation, management, and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well‑informed decisions in an increasingly complex built environment.

We are 100% employee‑owned through our ESOP, which fosters an ownership mindset and accountability in everything we do. At Lerch Bates, your expertise matters, your voice carries weight, and your work directly contributes to our shared success as OneLB.

• Lead, mentor, and manage a small technical team, supporting growth in technical expertise, project management, and professional development
• Conduct regular one‑on‑one meetings, performance discussions, and development planning with team members
• Serve as a technical mentor while remaining actively involved in project execution
• Participate in company initiatives and foster a collaborative, high‑performing team environment

• Lead and actively contribute to projects involving existing building investigations, repair strategies, rehabilitation, restoration, and modernization
• Manage projects ranging from quick‑turn assessments to large, highly complex projects
• Coordinate staffing and resource planning to achieve utilization and revenue goals
• Review consultant and specialist deliverables to ensure quality, consistency, compliance, and adherence to project schedules
• Support proposal development through technical expertise and staffing recommendations
• Provide high‑touch client engagement on sensitive or high‑profile projects
• Manage invoicing and project‑related operational responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and industry partners
• Identify opportunities for growth, service expansion, and operational improvements
• Anticipate market trends, client needs, and industry changes while developing strategies to capitalize on opportunities or mitigate risks
• Participate in forecasting, revenue planning, resource planning, and departmental performance tracking
• Support annual business planning, including growth strategies, staffing, training, and revenue targets

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline
• Active Architect license (AIA) required
• 8+ years of experience in architecture, engineering, construction management, forensics, rehabilitation, or existing building consulting
• 2+ years of leadership experience with team management, revenue accountability, business development, and operational oversight
• Strong understanding of building structures, building envelope systems, rehabilitation, restoration, and existing building construction
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing teams
• Strong financial, project management, and operational planning capabilities
• Ability to build trusted relationships…