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Owner Services for Large, Complex, and Socially Important Construction
The Role
The Principal will lead business development and manage complex construction projects, overseeing staff and ensuring successful project delivery while maintaining client relationships.
Summary Generated by Built In
Title: Principal Architect (Owner’s Representative)
Location: Columbia, South Carolina (Office based)
Hiring Range: $180,000 - $205,000
Position Summary:
The Principal Architect will have significant leadership responsibilities for the Columbia, South Carolina office, including the recruitment and management of staff, projects, and business development.
The Principal will lead business development efforts in South Carolina and adjacent regions, including identification of new business opportunities, introductory meetings with potential clients, proposal development oversight, and client/project interviews. The Principal will coordinate all business development activities with upper management and senior level managers overseeing the business development for growth within the region.
The Principal will lead large, complex construction projects and manage all facets of the project definition, procurement, design, pre-construction, bid/award, and construction phases of work. They will envision, plan, evaluate, and maintain oversight over operations required to successfully deliver the project to meet the client’s goals and objectives. They will manage all project stakeholders and oversee project staff.
Essential Functions:
MOCA Systems, Inc. (MSI) is a leading services and software provider for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. MSI delivers innovative solutions to Owners, Engineers, Architects, and Contractors working on some of the world’s largest, most complex construction projects. A profitable firm with offices across the United States and partners around the globe, MSI’s services and technology offerings ensure that projects are delivered on time and on budget and fulfill all Owner expectations. To learn more, visit mocasystems.com.
Our Solutions:
MOCA Services
MOCA Services is a full-service provider for Owners in the design and construction industry. Our battle-tested programs help clients make their projects successful from project ideation, through construction, and to occupancy. MOCA Services is relationship-focused and provides solutions for on time, on budget, and on scope delivery of large, complex, and socially important projects. To learn more, visit mocaservices.com.
Touchplan®
Touchplan is the premier software offering of MOCA Systems, Inc. Used on the most projects, by the most users, to optimize the largest construction volume, Touchplan is the number one production planning and analytics platform. The real-time, cloud-based solution uses the collaborative foundation of the Last Planner System® to prevent schedule and budget slippage. It also provides Owners and Contractors the instant insights they need to track progress and anticipate problems on projects. To learn more, visit touchplan.io.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:
MOCA Systems, Inc. (“MSI”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of any kind: MSI is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at MSI are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. MSI will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. MSI encourages applicants of all ages.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina (Office based)
Hiring Range: $180,000 - $205,000
Position Summary:
The Principal Architect will have significant leadership responsibilities for the Columbia, South Carolina office, including the recruitment and management of staff, projects, and business development.
The Principal will lead business development efforts in South Carolina and adjacent regions, including identification of new business opportunities, introductory meetings with potential clients, proposal development oversight, and client/project interviews. The Principal will coordinate all business development activities with upper management and senior level managers overseeing the business development for growth within the region.
The Principal will lead large, complex construction projects and manage all facets of the project definition, procurement, design, pre-construction, bid/award, and construction phases of work. They will envision, plan, evaluate, and maintain oversight over operations required to successfully deliver the project to meet the client’s goals and objectives. They will manage all project stakeholders and oversee project staff.
Essential Functions:
- Business Development, client introductory meetings, proposal development and client/project interviews.
- Oversee and manage local staff.
- Participate in the hiring and termination process with new and existing employees
- Acting as the owner’s representative, lead the project team(s) in the successful management and delivery of complex building projects by taking an active role in leadership with the architect and the contractor teams.
- Manage the overall client relationship during all phases of all contracts.
- Guide the team to meet the client’s vision and ensure positive outcomes for our clients and their construction projects.
- Review and monitor contracts to ensure MSI is fulfilling contract requirements.
- Maintain an open dialogue with the client and its stakeholders for continuous and effective communication and to obtain a common understanding of project status, progress, and expectations.
- Develop and manage project standards and provide regular reports to the client on project progress. Development of standards shall be through collaboration with Continuous Alignment leadership.
- Provide leadership and supervision of project staff ensuring adherence to company policy/procedures. Oversee staff development, performance management, and team motivation initiatives of direct reports.
- Provide Design Management oversight including working with the project design team to finalize and manage the design process. Attend all design meetings and maintain meeting minutes to ensure contract accountability.
- Provide Construction Management oversight including review and monitoring of project budgets and project schedules, review of RFI’s and submittals, review of pay applications and change orders, observation and monitoring of construction activities, and evaluation of field problems and facilitation of resolutions.
- Attend field walks and OAC (Owner, Architect and Contractor) meetings as the primary representative of the Owner.
- Monitor and facilitate project commissioning and closeout activities
- Manage performance of contracts with subcontractors, consultants, and vendors.
- Update and report on project budgets, invoice preparation, and project financial forecasts including variance reporting.
- Review and provide information to the owner regarding contractor schedule updates and coordinate with MSI’s internal scheduling team.
- Provide support in business development including making connections with new clients, identifying and developing new opportunities, developing proposals, and providing support in developing opportunities.
- NAAB accredited bachelor’s degree in architecture and a minimum of fifteen (15) years in the AEC industry, including the management of a team involved in planning, design, and construction.
- Registered Architect and active license preferred.
- Other industry accreditations or certifications such as LEED AP, DBIA, PMP or CCM desired.
- Project Management experience required.
- Significant experience in all phases of work required.
- Candidate must possess the following abilities:
- Organizational and project management skills.
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Manage and develop high performing teams.
- Implement and execute vision and goals.
- Prioritize work and successfully meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Develop a pipeline directly or indirectly by using multiple market and customer resources.
- Set priorities and work in a group environment or independently.
- Be client focused and detail oriented.
- Manage staff of different disciplines to produce results on time and within budget.
- Communicate to and brief leaders.
- Have working knowledge of Microsoft products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
- Have working knowledge of design software including Revit, Adobe Creative Suite and Bluebeam Revu.
- Proposal development, support and writing skills.
MOCA Systems, Inc. (MSI) is a leading services and software provider for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. MSI delivers innovative solutions to Owners, Engineers, Architects, and Contractors working on some of the world’s largest, most complex construction projects. A profitable firm with offices across the United States and partners around the globe, MSI’s services and technology offerings ensure that projects are delivered on time and on budget and fulfill all Owner expectations. To learn more, visit mocasystems.com.
Our Solutions:
MOCA Services
MOCA Services is a full-service provider for Owners in the design and construction industry. Our battle-tested programs help clients make their projects successful from project ideation, through construction, and to occupancy. MOCA Services is relationship-focused and provides solutions for on time, on budget, and on scope delivery of large, complex, and socially important projects. To learn more, visit mocaservices.com.
Touchplan®
Touchplan is the premier software offering of MOCA Systems, Inc. Used on the most projects, by the most users, to optimize the largest construction volume, Touchplan is the number one production planning and analytics platform. The real-time, cloud-based solution uses the collaborative foundation of the Last Planner System® to prevent schedule and budget slippage. It also provides Owners and Contractors the instant insights they need to track progress and anticipate problems on projects. To learn more, visit touchplan.io.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:
MOCA Systems, Inc. (“MSI”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of any kind: MSI is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at MSI are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. MSI will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. MSI encourages applicants of all ages.
Skills Required
- NAAB accredited bachelor's degree in architecture
- minimum of fifteen years in the AEC industry
- Registered Architect and active license preferred
- Other industry accreditations or certifications
- Project Management experience
- Significant experience in all phases of work
- Organizational and project management skills
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Manage and develop high performing teams
- Strong communication skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft products
- Working knowledge of design software including Revit
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The Company
What We Do
MOCA Services is a full-service provider, delivering expert solutions for Owners in the design and construction industry. Our proven programs guide projects from ideation to occupancy, ensuring success through every phase. With a focus on relationships and results, we drive on-time, on-budget, and on-scope delivery of large, complex, and socially significant projects. MOCA Services provides comprehensive expertise across government, institutional, and commercial construction, including Owner’s representation, cost and schedule management, planning and programming, Facility Condition Assessments, economic services, and MOCA911 project rescue. With MOCA Services, Owners gain certainty in execution, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and profitably. Our work spans industries across the U.S. and worldwide, serving federal and state agencies, local governments, K-12 schools and universities, transportation, and corporate and commercial sectors. We have a 90% success rate in delivering projects on budget and schedule while meeting Owner expectations. Our approach provides end-to-end project support, aligning all team members with the Owner’s vision from the start of a project through construction and occupancy. Consistently ranked as a Top 100 Construction Management Firm by Engineering News-Record (ENR), MOCA Services brings expertise, reliability, and a results-driven approach to every project, making us the trusted partner for Owners who demand success. MOCA Services and Touchplan are both divisions of MOCA Systems, Inc. (MSI), delivering comprehensive solutions for the construction industry. MOCA Services provides expert project management and consulting, while Touchplan, MSI’s premier software platform, empowers teams with real-time production planning and analytics to drive efficiency on large and complex construction projects.
