Architecture Manager & Business Development Lead

About the role

This role is pivotal for a motivated architect who excels at business development and project delivery. The Project Director- Architect will be based in Southern California offices and will blend high-impact business development with hands-on project involvement.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and grow client relationships across all target markets—civic, education, commercial, industrial, transportation, infrastructure-related facilities—while strategically deepening GHD’s presence in Hospitality and Entertainment.
• Lead opportunity identification, positioning, and pursuit strategy for new and existing clients.
• Partner closely with the US West Design Studio leadership to drive growth, revenue targets, and key account development.
• Collaborate with market sector leaders across GHD to coordinate integrated, multidisciplinary offerings.
• Represent the Architecture Design studio and the broader GHD brand at industry events, conferences, and professional organizations.
• Support proposal development, interview strategy, and client presentations.
• Serve as project architect, design lead, or technical advisor for select projects across a broad range of building types.
• Lead conceptual design workshops, visioning sessions, and planning discussions with clients and stakeholders.
• Integrate architectural solutions with engineering, interiors, landscape architecture, and environmental teams for a seamless, multidisciplinary approach.
• Ensure high standards of design quality, documentation, and project execution from concept through construction.
• Mentor emerging design talent and contribute to a collaborative, high-performance studio culture.
• Manage project financial health from contract execution to close out with work plans and instructions to guide and support the team through delivery.
• Work knowledge of contract types and delivery approaches, invoicing and payments, project health metrics to manage to budget, schedule, and scope.
• Act as subject matter expert in an area of technology, policy, regulation, or operational management for the team.
• Maintain external accreditations and in-depth understanding of current and emerging external regulation and industry best practices through continuing professional development, attending industry events, and reading specialist media.
• Ensure quality service and profitable business growth by managing a portfolio of complex customer relationships and/or a small team of account managers, executing on a plan for strategic win management, developing a personal network to represent the organization at business sector events to promote the organization, and enhance its reputation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture.
• Architectural licensure in the U.S. (required) or active progress toward licensure.
• 12-20 years of architectural experience, including project involvement in multiple building types.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams, delivery excellence and business development.
• Strong presentation, communication, and relationship-building abilities.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams.
• Competency with Revit, Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, and design communication tools.