Senior Architect | Director of Architecture

SENIOR ARCHITECT / DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE — KEM STUDIO

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

In studio, with flexibility to work remotely when life demands it

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports to: Principals

ABOUT KEM STUDIO

KEM STUDIO is an award-winning architecture industrial design firm committed to making life better through design. We begin each project with research—before drawing a line—to understand the challenge and opportunities. That research informs a Big Idea that gives the work direction and creates a project tailored to each client.

Our architectural work spans mixed-use, multifamily, residential, commercial, hospitality, civic, institutional, workplace, adaptive reuse, and interior architecture. We value clear ideas, thoughtful details, material integrity, technical rigor, and beautifully resolved, buildable solutions.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a licensed architect with 10 or more years of experience to join KEM STUDIO as a Senior Architect or Director of Architecture, depending on experience and readiness.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can guide design-focused projects from research and concept through documentation and construction. The Director of Architecture will also help lead the architectural practice by strengthening technical standards, quality control, project delivery, staffing, and mentorship.

We are equally interested in an exceptional Senior Architect who is ready to grow into the director role. The right person will bring sound judgment, curiosity, initiative, leadership potential, and a desire to help shape the future of KEM STUDIO.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead projects through research, concept design, schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding, and construction administration.
• Work with the Principals and project teams to translate the Big Idea into thoughtful, technically sound, and buildable solutions.
• Manage client relationships, consultant coordination, project scope, schedules, staffing, workflows, and budgets.
• Oversee building systems, envelope design, detailing, material and product selection, specifications, constructability, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Prepare and review zoning, code, accessibility, life-safety, sustainability, and permitting analyses.
• Guide the development of clear, coordinated, and visually clean construction documents.
• Lead quality-control reviews and resolve design, technical, permitting, and construction issues proactively.
• Participate actively in construction administration, including site visits, RFIs, submittals, field coordination, and protection of design intent.
• Mentor architects and designers through project involvement, thoughtful delegation, and regular feedback.
• Contribute to KEM STUDIO’s Revit practices, details, specifications, documentation standards, model management, and shared technical knowledge.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, professional development, and client relationships.

DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE

A candidate hired or promoted into the director role will also:

• Provide day-to-day leadership for the architectural practice in collaboration with the Principals.
• Establish expectations for design continuity, technical quality, documentation, coordination, and project delivery.
• Oversee architectural standards, quality-control processes, model management, specifications, and risk management.
• Monitor project performance and help teams address scope, schedule, staffing, fee, quality, and delivery concerns.
• Help plan staffing and balance project needs with individual strengths and professional development.
• Participate in evaluating new work, delivery strategies, consultant needs, schedules, and staffing requirements.
• Help define and implement the long-term direction of KEM STUDIO’s architectural practice through the delivery of design-focused projects.

The Director of Architecture will remain meaningfully involved in project design, documentation, mentoring, and construction.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional degree in Architecture—B.Arch, M.Arch, or equivalent—from an accredited program.
• Approximately 10 or more years of professional architectural experience.
• Current architectural license, with the ability to obtain Missouri licensure promptly.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating both design ability and technical/documentation experience.
• Experience leading projects through design, permitting, documentation, and construction administration.
• Strong knowledge of building codes, zoning, accessibility, life safety, building systems, detailing, specifications, and construction practices.
• Experience managing clients, project teams, multidisciplinary consultants, schedules, and budgets.
• Proficiency in Revit and Bluebeam.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, make decisions, and resolve problems collaboratively.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Mixed-use, multifamily, hospitality, civic, institutional, workplace, adaptive reuse, or interior architecture.
• Construction Administration and direct collaboration with contractors.
• Developing internal standards, quality-control procedures, specifications, details, or Revit workflows.
• Sustainable design, LEED accreditation, or comparable credentials.
• Familiarity with Rhino, SketchUp, Enscape, V-Ray, or similar visualization tools is desired but not required.
• Effective and empathetic communication skills.
• Strong client relationships.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary based on experience, capabilities, and role.
• Health, dental, vision, and other insurance benefits.
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with up to a 3% company match.
• Paid time off plus 10 paid holidays.
• Additional paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Financial support for professional development and continuing education.
• A collaborative, creative, and open studio environment.
• Meaningful ownership of projects and input in studio decisions.
• A potential path from Senior Architect to Director of Architecture.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a resume, digital portfolio, and brief description of your interest to archjobs@kemstudio.com.

We are interested in learning why you are interested in KEM STUDIO, what you would bring to the role, and how you hope to grow. During portfolio presentations, demonstrate both design thinking and technical/documentation ability, and identify your specific contribution to each project.