Architect in Phoenix

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Job DescriptionJob Description

Director of Architecture & Design

Location: Utah (Salt Lake City area), with hybrid flexibility
Travel: Occasional local travel (site visits, agency meetings)
Reports to: Executive Leadership
Direct reports: Internal drafting staff and/or external consultant teams
Compensation: Competitive base + bonus potential + benefits

About the Role

An established real estate company is seeking a Director of Architecture & Design to lead design strategy and execution across a growing portfolio of projects (multifamily, townhomes, mixed-use retail/commercial). The Director of Architecture & Design will own the full design lifecycle – from early feasibility and entitlements through construction documentation, permitting, and construction administration – ensuring projects are design-forward, efficient to build, aligned with proforma realities, and code-compliant.

This is a high-impact, dynamic, and collaborative role for someone who can balance architecture, product design, constructability, municipal processes, and team leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Product Strategy

• Guide early massing/site planning studies in coordination with the acquisitions and development teams, as well as civil, planning, and construction.
• Establish and maintain the company’s architectural and design standards and libraries (unit plans, elevations, materials, detailing, amenity packages, branding, scopes, etc.).
• Drive both design quality and the design process with an eye to repeatability, cost control, speed-to-permit, and constructability.
• Build and lead internal design capability (as applicable), improving processes, standards, and documentation workflows.
• Collaborate internally with ownership, acquisitions, and development, and externally with engineers, consultants, contractors, and other building lifecycle partners.

Entitlements & Agency Coordination

• Lead design and documentation for pre-application meetings, planning commission, design review, zoning compliance, and entitlement negotiations.
• Coordinate with planners and municipal staff to achieve approvals with minimal redesign churn.
• Ensure design packages are clear, defensible, and conform to municipal requirements.

Consultant Management & Documentation

• Select, manage, and hold accountable external consultants: civil, MEP, structural, landscape, interiors, signage/wayfinding, lighting, specialty consultants, etc.
• Oversee production of permit sets and construction documents, ensuring code compliance and building department responsiveness, constructability and clarity, value engineering, and coordination across disciplines.

Cost, Schedule, and Constructability

• Coordinate with general contractor precon/construction teams to align design decisions with budget, procurement realities, and schedule constraints.
• Lead iterative VE efforts and manage trade-offs to protect scope and performance outcomes.
• Reduce RFIs and change orders through rigorous coordination and quality control.

Construction Administration & Field Support

• Provide design leadership during construction: submittal review, RFI responses, site observations, punch support, and design issue resolution.
• Maintain design intent while making practical field decisions quickly.
• Function as an owner’s representative, leading or participating in on-site OAC meetings.

Qualifications

Required

• Professional degree in Architecture (or equivalent) and 10+ years experience with increasing responsibility (development-facing but not required).
• Proven leadership on residential projects (multifamily & townhomes) through entitlements, permitting, CA.
• Strong working knowledge of:
• IBC/IRC, accessibility requirements, and typical fire/life safety constraints
• Municipal entitlement processes and design review dynamics
• Construction documentation standards and consultant coordination
• Track record of delivering projects that meet design quality, budget, and schedule goals.
• Proficient in architecture and design softwares such as Revit, Sketchup, CAD, Photoshop and InDesign, Enscape/VRay, etc.
• Excellent communication skills with and ability to influence stakeholders and represent the company publicly when needed.

• Licensed Architect (or ability to obtain license in first 90-days) – ARE reimbursed by employer; NCARB helpful.
• Direct experience working for or closely with a developer-builder or design-builder.
• Experience building repeatable product lines and standardized plan sets.
• Comfort with pro formas, hard/soft cost drivers, and cost-informed design decisions.

What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)

• Establish clear design standards and decision-making processes across the developer’s pipeline.
• Reduce entitlement and permitting cycle friction through better pre-planning and document clarity.
• Improve construction outcomes (fewer RFIs, cleaner coordination, stronger VE discipline).
• Create a scalable consultant ecosystem and internal workflow that supports growth.

Why This Role

• High visibility, opportunity for ownership, and meaningful influence on the built product.
• Opportunity to shape a portfolio and design culture.
• Partner closely with decision-makers in a fast-moving development environment.

Confidential Application Process

To maintain confidentiality, the company name and project list will be shared later in the process. Interested candidates should submit:

• Resume/CV
• Portfolio or representative work samples (PDF or link)
• Brief note highlighting relevant residential entitlement + construction delivery experience
• Any references

If you are interested in applying for this job please press the Apply Button and follow the application process. Energy Jobline wishes you the very best of luck in your next career move.