We are seeking a Senior Project Architect who is not only a seasoned design and technical expert, but also a trusted studio leader. This position is ideal for a highly motivated professional with 15-20+ years of experience or more, who thrives in a collaborative environment and is committed to advancing both project excellence and studio culture.
You will lead teams and drive complex projects through all phases, ensure the highest standards of quality and performance, and actively support the operational and cultural growth of our Bainbridge Island studio and the practice of McLennan Design globally.
Design & Technical Leadership
- Lead all phases of architectural development from concept through construction with technical rigor and creative clarity under the design director’s leadership.
- Direct the production of construction documents, details, and specifications while ensuring compliance with applicable codes and quality standards.
- Manage agency reviews including zoning, accessibility, and life safety.
- Oversee construction administration and lead coordination with contractors and consultants.
- Maintain fluency in current building technologies, systems, and sustainable materials.
- Review team outputs for accuracy, clarity, and compliance with project goals and firm standards.
Studio Leadership & Culture
- Partner with the Managing Director to help guide studio operations, culture, and strategic planning.
- Mentor and coach junior and mid-level designers to foster their growth and elevate team performance.
- Champion an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.
- Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, and talent development.
- Participate in studio leadership meetings related to resourcing, workflow optimization, and pipeline planning.
Project & Business Development
- Lead or support business development pursuits, proposal development, and client presentations.
- Strengthen client relationships and represent the firm’s mission and values externally.
- Contribute to thought leadership and innovation within the firm by staying current on emerging practices in regenerative design and sustainability.
Promote a culture of purpose, learning, and high performance throughout the studio
Qualifications & Skills
- 15-20+ years of professional architectural experience with a proven portfolio of completed projects.
- Architecture license required.
- Strong leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
- Demonstrated expertise in Revit, BIM workflows, and sustainable design best practices.
- Deep understanding of building codes, life safety, agency review, and technical documentation.
- Experience with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite (or Affinity tools).
- Passion for regenerative, deep green design and commitment to the firm’s sustainability mission.
- ILFI certification required within 6 months of hire.
- Additional sustainability credentials (LEED AP, WELL AP, SITES AP, CPHC/PHI, etc.) required within a year.
Qualified and interested candidates should submit a resume and work samples. Include your resume and a compact, representative sample of your work (no larger than 6MB). Please submit your files in pdf.
Salary Range Information
We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, and competitive and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions include but are not limited to a candidate’s qualifications including skill sets, education, experience and training, licensure and certifications credentials if applicable, and business-related factors. This practice extends to all employees, including performance considerations for merit increases, job promotions, and transfer opportunities. We additionally review our pay practices, conduct pay equity audits, and ensure our managers are trained in our pay practices on an annual basis. At the time of posting this job advertisement, commensurate with qualifications, the annual pay salary range for this position is between $111,500 and $163,800 dependent upon experience.
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
At Perkins&Will we believe that inclusion spurs creativity and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people + ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status; we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve.
"Design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community."
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
What We Do
Since 1935, we’ve believed that design has the power to make the world a better, more beautiful place. That’s why clients and community members on nearly every continent partner with us to design healthy, happy places in which to live, learn, work, play, and heal. We’re passionate about Living Design, a philosophy that guides our work and emphasizes poetics and beauty; conceptual clarity; research and innovation; technology and tectonics; community and inclusion; resilience and regeneration; and health and well-being. Our team of over 2,500 professionals in 30 studios worldwide provides interdisciplinary services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, landscape architecture, and more. Our partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). We’re also part of the Sidara Collaborative, a global network of leading designers, engineers, planners, and consultants.
