Architectural Market Sector Principal- Community & Culture

Job Description

Job Description

Why This Role Matters:

You are a relationship builder, market leader, and trusted advisor who is passionate about creating places that strengthen communities and enrich culture. In this role, you will drive the growth and success of our Community & Culture (C&C) Practice by cultivating strategic client relationships, identifying new opportunities, and leading pursuits that expand our impact across public, civic, cultural, and community-centered markets.

You bring a unique blend of business development, leadership, and architectural expertise. As a visible leader within the communities we serve, you will champion stakeholder engagement, generate and convert opportunities, and guide multidisciplinary teams in delivering innovative environments that inspire connection, belonging, and growth. You'll play a critical role in growing our practice, mentoring future leaders, and strengthening CPL's reputation as a trusted partner for communities and cultural institutions.

What You'll Do:

Practice Growth & Business Development

• Serve as a leader and ambassador for CPL's Community & Culture Practice within the marketplace.
• Build, strengthen, and maintain relationships with municipal leaders, community organizations, cultural institutions, public agencies, private sector partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new opportunities while expanding existing client partnerships across community-focused markets, including libraries, parks and recreation, civic facilities, museums, theaters, government and judicial centers, emergency services, operation centers, zoos and aquariums, and workplace environments.
• Lead business development efforts including networking, conferences, industry involvement, strategic pursuits, community engagement initiatives, and proposal development.
• Maintain a strong client portfolio and contribute to achieving practice revenue, profitability, and annual growth goals.

Client Leadership

• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, guiding visioning, planning, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making processes.
• Lead client presentations, workshops, public meetings, community outreach efforts, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Ensure exceptional client experiences through proactive communication, collaboration, and responsive leadership.
• Promote CPL's value proposition and strengthen our reputation as a premier partner in creating meaningful community and cultural destinations.

Project & Operational Leadership

• Provide executive oversight of multiple projects, ensuring successful delivery of scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives.
• Guide project teams in developing effective strategies, work plans, and creative design solutions that reflect community needs and aspirations.
• Allocate resources effectively to support project performance and client satisfaction.
• Oversee financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, billing, and resource planning.
• Advocate for innovative, sustainable, and people-centered design solutions that foster connection, engagement, and long-term community impact.

Strategic Leadership

• Monitor industry trends, community needs, demographic shifts, cultural priorities, market conditions, and emerging technologies to drive practice growth.
• Develop and leverage performance metrics that support informed business decisions and practice health.
• Collaborate with Practice Leaders and firm leadership to shape strategy and execute key initiatives.
• Influence organizational success through effective communication, relationship building, stakeholder collaboration, and change leadership.
• Champion CPL's community-driven design philosophy by helping clients create places where people connect, share, and thrive.

What You Bring: 

• A Professional Degree (or Master’s) in your field from an accredited institution and have at least 12 years of related work experience, with at least 5 in a Project Manager role – or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Professional licensure (RA)
• Recognition as an expert in your field, often serving on professional organization boards and committees
• Elevated level of financial acumen
• Ability to manage complexity with a have a track record of providing quality designs for a wide range of project types
• In-depth knowledge of construction processes, plans, and specifications, as well as their application and relevance to public works and construction projects.

What We Offer:

Benefits for Regular Full-Time & Part-Time Employees Working 30+ Hours/Week

• Healthcare for you and your family: Medical, Dental & Vision insurance
  • Single HDHP Medical plan with 100% paid premium
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• FREE Life Insurance and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance for you and your family
• FREE Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• PTO + Sick Time + 8 Holidays per year
• Retirement Savings Plan with contribution from CPL to grow your retirement funds
• Internal Mobility & Career Advancement
• Licensure Assistance

Additional benefits available to FT Employees Working 40+ Hours/Week

• Tuition Assistance: You may be eligible for continuing education assistance
• Student Loan Assistance Program: CPL will contribute up to $100/month for 5 years ($6,000 total) toward student loan debt

What Does It Look Like Working Here?

We believe that building a strong community is about establishing a prevailing sense of fellowship among our team members, friends, and neighbors.

• Collaboration – working with others towards the best solution, placing great emphasis on the collective wisdom of our internal teams.
• Family – celebrating others’ successes, genuinely caring about the happiness and well-being of our team members and recognizing their own families as extensions of the CPL family.
• Fun – not taking oneself too seriously, fully understanding that fun at work is conducive to productivity.
• Inspiration – contributing to an uplifting workplace that facilitates growth and success by maintaining a positive, upbeat attitude.
• Integrity – doing what is ethically right and providing reliable follow-through on commitments.
• Ingenuity – seeking new opportunities and consistently identifying unexpected and practical ways to solve problems.

The rate for this position generally ranges between $150,000 to $185,000. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the New York Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful New York applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in New York or perform the position from New York. Similar positions located outside of New York will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New York Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employees already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee's pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.

CPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such affirms the right of every person to participate in all aspects of employment without regard to gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, citizenship, military or veteran status, gender expression and/or identity, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

CPL does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiting professionals or agencies, nor do we accept resumes from any source that does not reference a specific, open position. CPL will not be responsible for any fees arising from the use of resumes submitted by recruiting professionals or agencies that do not have a current placement fee agreement with CPL. All initial communication with recruiting professionals or agencies must go through our Talent Acquisition Team.