Executive Director of Architecture & Planning

Job Description

Position Overview - ***Open to Relocation Candidates

A well-established, commercial real estate development and investment company is seeking an accomplished architecture and planning leader to provide strategic direction and hands-on expertise across a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets and development projects.

This highly visible position requires a well-rounded professional with a strong foundation in architecture, site planning, and placemaking, combined with the judgment and technical capabilities to navigate a fast-paced, high-volume development environment.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable shaping the vision for larger developments and taking a hands-on approach to smaller-scale projects, including outparcel development, tenant-driven modifications, building expansions, and property repositioning. This individual must be capable of independently evaluating architectural drawings, refining site plans, identifying design challenges, and developing practical solutions while also directing external consultants on more complex initiatives.

Success in this role requires versatility, decisiveness, and the ability to balance architectural quality, functionality, constructability, cost, and long-term asset value across a wide range of projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide architectural and planning leadership across a diverse portfolio of retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use properties.
• Lead conceptual design, site planning, master planning, and placemaking initiatives for new developments, redevelopments, and existing assets.
• Independently review, evaluate, and refine architectural drawings, site plans, building layouts, and development concepts, identifying opportunities to improve design, functionality, and efficiency.
• Take a hands-on approach to resolving architectural and planning challenges, adjusting the level of direct involvement based on project size, complexity, and business needs.
• Oversee a high volume of concurrent projects varying significantly in scope, scale, and stage of development, effectively managing competing priorities and timelines.
• Guide architectural and site planning decisions for ground-up developments, outparcels, tenant-driven projects, renovations, expansions, and property repositioning initiatives.
• Evaluate site layouts, building placement, access, circulation, parking, pedestrian connectivity, and land-use efficiency to maximize development potential.
• Collaborate closely with ownership, development, leasing, construction, and property management teams to align architectural and planning solutions with commercial objectives.
• Direct and coordinate external architects, engineers, planners, and design consultants, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely execution.
• Identify opportunities to enhance placemaking, tenant experience, property aesthetics, and the long-term value of commercial assets.
• Critically assess design proposals and recommend practical alternatives that balance architectural vision with development feasibility, budget, schedule, and constructability.
• Contribute to the development of internal architectural and planning capabilities, with the opportunity to build and lead a team as the function evolves.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a closely related field required; professional architectural licensure preferred.
• Significant progressive experience in commercial architecture, real estate development, site planning, or architectural leadership.
• Strong technical foundation in architectural design, site planning, land-use optimization, and placemaking, with the ability to independently assess and resolve design challenges.
• Experience working for a commercial real estate developer, owner, or investment firm strongly preferred; candidates from architecture firms with substantial commercial development experience will also be considered.
• Broad exposure to commercial property types, ideally including retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use developments.
• Demonstrated experience managing a diverse portfolio of simultaneous projects, including both large-scale developments and smaller, fast-moving assignments.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between architecture, site planning, leasing requirements, development feasibility, construction costs, and asset performance.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in both strategic and hands-on capacities, with a willingness to engage directly in technical details when needed.
• Experience directing multidisciplinary consultants and collaborating with development, construction, and other internal stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Highly organized, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities and demanding timelines.

The Opportunity

This position offers the opportunity to play an influential role in the architectural direction and development strategy of a substantial and diversified real estate portfolio.

Working closely with senior leadership, the successful candidate will have meaningful involvement in development decisions across projects of varying size and complexity, from new development concepts to the ongoing enhancement and repositioning of existing assets.

They are seeking an entrepreneurship minded, hands-on leader who brings strong architectural instincts, technical depth, and the ability to translate design concepts into practical, executable solutions. The role offers significant autonomy, broad exposure across asset classes, and the opportunity to help shape and grow the company's architectural and planning function.