Architectural Business Leader

Overview

The Architectural Business Leader will serve as the pivotal architect and strategic driver for SSOE's healthcare, higher education, mixed-use, and hospitality market initiatives. This role demands a hands-on leader who integrates deep technical expertise across one or more of these market sectors with robust business acumen to deliver scalable, high-performance designs aligned with client and industry expectations. You will direct the architectural strategy. Your daily collaboration will span project managers, external engineering partners, contractors, and client stakeholders. You will ensure design solutions incorporate sector-specific regulatory compliance, occupant experience, operational efficiency, and sustainability standards essential to today's complex built environments.

AI and Innovation

At SSOE, we don’t just talk about the future, we build it. As a leader in industry AI adoption, we empower our team to work smarter by providing responsible access to the industry leading AI Large Language Models, vibe-coding platforms, and securely integrating advanced tools into every role. From day one, you’ll receive the training and support needed to leverage AI as a core tool for enhancing productivity, sparking creativity, and streamlining complex workflows.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement comprehensive business strategies to expand SSOE's leadership footprint within healthcare, higher education, mixed-use, and hospitality sectors, aligning architectural capabilities with market demands and evolving client expectations.
• Function as the subject matter expert in one or more target market sectors, staying current with evolving design standards, guidelines, regulatory requirements, and best practices specific to healthcare facilities, academic campuses, mixed-use developments, and hospitality environments.
• Spearhead competitive pricing strategy formulation by leveraging quantitative cost modeling, risk assessment matrices, and benchmarking data to enhance bid-to-win ratios and help ensure profitability.
• Participate in proposal development, providing technical due diligence, architectural scope definition, resource estimation, and architectural advisories related to project risk profiles, scope clarification, and constructability.
• Support regional market expansion initiatives by engaging local industry partners, participating in healthcare, higher education, and hospitality industry conferences and associations, and identifying opportunities to showcase innovation in architectural design.
• Maintain an up-to-date network of industry contacts, including clients, owner groups, consultants, and regulatory authorities, promoting SSOE's brand as a trusted expert across target market sectors and driving long-term client retention.
• Champion design excellence by integrating evidence-based design principles, universal design standards, and user-centered programming approaches tailored to the unique needs of patients, students, guests, and mixed-use occupants.
• Engage with healthcare systems, university facilities departments, hospitality brands, and mixed-use developers to identify pipeline opportunities, build lasting relationships, and position SSOE as a preferred design partner.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from a NAAB-accredited program.
• Licensed Architect with responsible charge experience in one or more of the following sectors: healthcare, higher education, mixed-use, or hospitality.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive architectural experience, with a strong focus on one or more target market sectors, demonstrating leadership and market expansion.
• Proficient working knowledge of applicable design standards, codes, and guidelines relevant to target markets, including but not limited to FGI Guidelines (healthcare), ADA/accessibility standards, local zoning and land use regulations, and hospitality brand standards.
• Experience developing and reviewing detailed architectural plans, specifications, and BIM models aligned with multidisciplinary coordination across mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil teams.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and communicate effectively with C-suite clients, owner representatives, project teams, and external consultants, with a track record of guiding technical decisions and managing stakeholder expectations.
• Direct experience supporting regional or national expansion initiatives within one or more target market sectors, including local business development and market strategy execution.
• Proven capacity to apply quantitative cost modeling and risk analyses during proposal development and project pricing formulation.
• Hands-on experience leading multi-phase project delivery from pre-design and schematic design through construction administration.
• Knowledge of sustainability and resilience standards relevant to target markets, such as LEED, WELL Building Standard, or ENERGY STAR certifications.
• Familiarity with healthcare facility planning and operational workflows, academic campus master planning, hospitality brand standards, or mixed-use development entitlement processes is highly desirable.
• Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000/year depending on location, education, depth of relevant experience, and any specialized licensure/certifications. Opportunity for ample rewards, leadership incentive components, and generous bonus opportunities.
• Benefits: Includes comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, 401K retirement savings plan (with company matching), opportunities for professional development and training (including support for relevant licensure & certifications), and generous PTO & paid holidays.
• Ownership Opportunities: As an employee-owned firm, we offer ownership opportunities to all employees at the associate level and above. This senior associate-level role will allow you to become a shareholder of SSOE.

Why SSOE

At SSOE, innovation and mentorship converge in a culture that integrates multidisciplinary expertise to deliver complex projects across a diverse range of markets worldwide. Here, senior leaders play a pivotal role not only in technical delivery but also in shaping the next generation of design professionals through structured coaching and knowledge-sharing programs. Join a firm where your technical excellence directly impacts challenging, meaningful projects — from healing environments and vibrant academic campuses to dynamic mixed-use destinations and world-class hospitality experiences — and where defined career paths enable advancement in leadership, design mastery, and business development. Experience collaborative problem-solving in an environment that values quality, integrity, and continuous improvement, all while contributing to high-impact solutions at the forefront of architectural engineering innovation.

Salary : $160,000 - $200,000