This role requires a senior leader who ensures the architectural studio operates with clarity, discipline, and momentum. The Studio Director is responsible for translating vision into execution by aligning people, resources, and processes so great design work can be delivered consistently and profitably. The Studio director understands the inner workings of an architectural studio and is deeply invested in cultivating the team they lead. This role carries full responsibility for staff management, operational performance, and revenue delivery across the service department. If you do not see the requirements listed below, we ask that you spare us the application.
About Position: The Studio Director is a peer to the Design Director and works in close partnership with them. While the Design Director owns design quality and standards, the Studio Director owns execution, resourcing, and team performance. The five essential responsibilities of this role are the following:
Revenue Management:
- Own responsibility for achieving studio revenue targets and ensure that signed contracts translate into timely, accurate, and paid invoices
- Maintain all projects in an “On Track” state across client satisfaction, scope alignment, hours, schedule, and level of development.
- Manage the “Backlog” spreadsheet to support transparent project progress and proactive client billing and collections
- Partner with leadership to identify risks to revenue early and implement corrective action
Resource Allocation:
- Act as the studio’s air-traffic-controller, optimizing resources allocation to meet projects demands, while protecting profitability and team sustainability
- Assign work with discernment, considering deadlines, skill sets, growth opportunities, and individual limitations
- Adjust resourcing plans in real time as project priorities, scopes, or constraints evolve
- Provide staffing forecasts and capacity planning updates for active and upcoming projects to the Sales Director
Project Management & Milestones
- Partner with the Design Director to ensure that all projects are appropriately resourced through the design phases (Early Design - Schematic Design) in order to be set up for success
- Lead execution of all projects from Design Development through Construction
- Ensure milestones are met on time while preserving design intent and delivering an exceptional built project
- Ensure that the Design Development through Construction Document Phases in Process Street are followed by all (trained, measured, managed, and updated).
- Ensure that all key service department processes are followed by all (project management processes and construction administration processes)
Client Management
- Serve as the primary senior contact for clients across the life of the projects
- Lead or support client meetings as required based on staffing and project needs
- Address and resolve client dissatisfaction with clarity and professionalism
- Continually elevate the client experience through thoughtful service and communication
Lead, Manage, Hold Accountable: The Studio Director is the direct manager of all service staff and is responsible for building a high performing, healthy team. This includes:
- Champion the Laney LA vision and align the team around it
- Set clear expectations for roles, responsibilities, and performance
- Initiate and lead difficult conversations with clarity, respect, and resolve
- Mentor and coach team members expertly wielding candor, empathy, humor, and coaching to elevate staff performance
- Hold the team accountable such that all teammates understand where they are headed and what they are responsible for accomplishing
- Make staffing decisions in partnership with leadership, including hiring, performance management, and team development
- Partner with the hiring team to assess the capabilities of prospective hires and contribute to shaping the long term talent of the studio
- Serve as a fluent facilitator and leader of EOS for the service department, using its tools to drive discipline, priorities, and organizational health
