Principal Architect – Practice Lead (Education Sector)

David Joseph & Company•Miami, FL

About The Position

A growing multidisciplinary architecture and engineering firm is seeking a Principal Architect – Practice Lead to support the leadership and operational performance of its Education and Institutional practice in Florida. This role serves as a key operational leader within the market, helping guide project delivery, resource planning, financial performance, and team development across multiple offices and project teams. The position works closely with senior leadership to ensure projects are executed efficiently while supporting long-term growth within the education sector. The ideal candidate brings a combination of architectural leadership, operational management, and team development experience, along with a strong understanding of the A/E/C industry and complex project delivery. What Makes This Opportunity Unique This role offers the opportunity to join a growing, collaborative architecture and engineering firm with a strong pipeline of institutional and public-sector projects. Leadership is actively investing in the continued growth of its education market, creating opportunities for experienced architects to step into meaningful leadership roles while shaping the direction of the practice. The firm fosters a team-oriented environment that values collaboration, innovation, and professional development, with opportunities to influence both project delivery and long-term market strategy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture required.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in architecture, project management, or market leadership within the A/E/C industry.
Demonstrated experience managing project teams, budgets, and complex project portfolios.
Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities across teams.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Experience supporting operational performance and project financial management.
Strong understanding of architectural project delivery, design coordination, and construction documentation.
Familiarity with A/E/C industry project management processes including scope, schedule, and budget control.
Experience with project management, financial, or ERP systems commonly used within architecture and engineering firms.
Ability to analyze operational data and translate strategic goals into actionable plans.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or advanced certification in architecture, management, or a related field.
Experience working with education, institutional, or civic projects.
Experience managing multidisciplinary teams across multiple offices or distributed teams.
Exposure to financial performance metrics such as utilization, revenue forecasting, backlog, and project profitability.
Experience contributing to market growth initiatives or client development efforts.

Responsibilities

Support market leadership in executing strategic initiatives and operational priorities within the education and institutional sector.
Oversee project delivery across multiple teams, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with quality standards.
Lead resource planning and staffing coordination, aligning talent with project and client needs.
Monitor key operational and financial metrics including project performance, utilization, backlog, and revenue forecasting.
Collaborate with project managers and discipline leaders to ensure projects remain aligned with contractual obligations and regulatory requirements.
Support business development efforts by contributing to proposals, pursuit strategies, and ongoing client relationship management.
Partner with HR and leadership to support staff development, mentorship, and performance management across the practice.
Promote operational consistency and continuous improvement by implementing best practices across teams.
Serve as a liaison between project teams and executive leadership, communicating operational needs and resolving project challenges.
Participate in strategic planning and budgeting processes to support market growth and operational efficiency.
Represent the practice in leadership meetings and internal forums as needed.
Ensure compliance with quality assurance, safety, and operational standards across project teams.