Senior Architect - Practice Leader

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Architect / Market Sector Leader

Build a Sector with Zebra's Backing and the Leadership of Ashley Popich

Company: Zebra Architecture
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, or other strategic Western U.S. cities
Employment: Full-time
Proposed Base Salary: $150,000–$200,000+, commensurate with experience and demonstrated ability to generate business
Additional Compensation: Performance incentives aligned with business development, sector growth, and financial results
Represented by: Luxus Group Recruiting

Build Your Vision with the Support to Make It Happen

You have developed architectural expertise, earned client trust, and built relationships. Now you have an opportunity to turn those strengths into a growing market sector—with the backing of Zebra Architecture and the leadership and mentorship of Ashley Popich, Managing Director of Arizona .

Luxus Group Recruiting is partnering with Zebra Architecture , a firm ranked 11 th worldwide by Hospitality Giants in Food and Beverage and 9th worldwide in Retail , to identify an entrepreneurial senior architect who can help expand the firm into new project types and markets.

This is an opportunity to help build a sector within an established organization. You will bring your expertise, relationships, and growth vision, while Zebra provides the infrastructure, resources, and organizational support to help bring that vision to life.

Working with Ashley, you will have the opportunity to refine your strategy, develop your leadership capabilities, and build a sustainable practice. As the sector grows, the position could evolve into broader practice, market, or office leadership .

A Platform for Your Next Career Chapter

This opportunity may be right for you if you already lead client relationships, manage projects, or help win work—and are ready for greater ownership of a sector's direction and growth.

Perhaps you see an underserved market. Perhaps you have relationships that could support a new practice but need a team and delivery infrastructure. Or perhaps you are ready to move toward office leadership with the support of an experienced managing director.

Zebra wants to explore what you could build.

Potential sectors include:

• Hospitality and hotels
• Multifamily and mixed-use development
• Healthcare and outpatient facilities
• Industrial, logistics, and manufacturing
• Workplace and commercial office
• Education
• Civic and institutional projects
• Senior living
• Other complementary sectors supported by relevant expertise and a credible growth strategy

The specific sector and scope will be shaped around the right candidate and a compelling business opportunity.

Leadership, Mentorship, and Backing

Ashley Popich, Managing Director of Arizona, will provide leadership and mentorship as you establish and grow your sector.

You will collaborate with Ashley and Zebra's broader leadership team to:

• Define the sector's market position and growth strategy.
• Identify target clients and prioritize business development opportunities.
• Evaluate pursuits, proposals, fees, and resource needs.
• Plan the team and delivery capabilities required to support growth.
• Develop your capabilities in practice management and organizational leadership.
• Establish a path toward greater leadership responsibility as results and business needs support it.

This combines meaningful ownership of a growth opportunity with access to guidance and an established organizational platform.

Who Will Thrive Here

Zebra is seeking a leader who combines relationship development, architectural expertise, and disciplined project execution .

The firm's retail and food and beverage practice operates at a fast pace. Candidates should be accustomed to managing 5–15 concurrent projects , with workload calibrated to project size, complexity, and available team support.

You should be comfortable making decisions, navigating competing priorities, and maintaining quality across multiple deadlines. You should also enjoy developing relationships, identifying opportunities, and helping teams succeed.

What You Will Do

Build and Grow a Sector

• Develop a practical sector growth plan with Ashley's guidance and Zebra's support.
• Build relationships with owners, developers, operators, and other project decision-makers.
• Translate relevant relationships and market knowledge into qualified opportunities.
• Lead or support pursuits, proposals, presentations, and client negotiations.
• Establish realistic goals for revenue, staffing, profitability, and client development.
• Expand accounts and generate repeat business through strong project delivery.

Lead Projects and Clients

• Oversee approximately 5–15 active projects , depending on scope and complexity.
• Guide teams through planning, design, documentation, and construction administration.
• Manage client expectations, schedules, budgets, and staffing priorities.
• Maintain clear communication and accountability across teams.
• Support consistent quality and efficient delivery in a fast-paced environment.

Develop a Team and Leadership Role

• Help recruit, mentor, and develop the talent needed to support the sector.
• Collaborate with Zebra's existing teams on pursuits and project execution.
• Help establish processes that support sustainable, profitable growth.
• Work with Ashley to develop your practice management and leadership capabilities.
• Potentially assume broader sector, market, or office leadership responsibilities as the practice develops.

What You Bring

• Substantial architectural experience with increasing responsibility for projects, clients, teams, or practice growth.
• Architectural licensure strongly preferred; specific requirements will reflect the role's responsibilities and location.
• Deep expertise in a sector that could complement Zebra's existing practice.
• Established relationships with relevant clients and industry decision-makers.
• Demonstrated success winning work, expanding accounts, or contributing meaningfully to business development.
• Experience managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong judgment regarding scope, fees, staffing, schedules, and profitability.
• The ability to explain a credible growth opportunity and the support needed to pursue it.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, collaborative approach, and openness to mentorship.
• Interest in growing into broader practice or office leadership.

You do not need to own an existing firm or arrive with signed projects. You do need relevant relationships, demonstrated commercial ability, and a realistic vision for growth. All discussions and business development activities must respect confidentiality obligations and existing agreements.

Compensation That Reflects Your Contribution

Proposed annual base salary: $150,000–$200,000+, with additional performance-based earning potential.

The package will be tailored to the individual's experience, leadership scope, and demonstrated ability to originate business and build a profitable sector.

Compensation considerations include:

• Architectural and sector expertise.
• Track record of originating and securing work.
• Strength and relevance of client relationships.
• Credibility and timing of the proposed business pipeline.
• Project delivery and team leadership responsibilities.
• Scope of sector, market, or future office leadership.

Performance incentives may be tied to business generation, collected revenue, and practice profitability. Compensation above the proposed base range may be considered for exceptional candidates with a substantiated growth opportunity.

Final compensation and incentive terms will be established during the hiring process.

Benefits

• 25 paid days off
• Paid healthcare
• 401(k) with employer match

You will also have the opportunity to build within an established firm, supported by experienced colleagues and Ashley's leadership and mentorship.

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, is a primary location of interest. Candidates in other strategic Western U.S. cities will also be considered where their relationships, sector expertise, and growth strategy support a compelling opportunity.

Work arrangements and travel expectations will be discussed based on location and leadership scope.

Start a Confidential Conversation

Bring your vision. Build with Zebra. Grow with experienced leadership beside you.

If you are an accomplished architect ready to build a sector with organizational backing and the leadership and mentorship of Ashley Popich, Managing Director of Arizona , Luxus Group Recruiting welcomes a confidential conversation.

Share your background, sector expertise, geographic interests, and a brief overview of the practice you would like to develop. Initial conversations can explore your vision without disclosing confidential client information.

Contact Luxus Group Recruiting to explore this opportunity with Zebra Architecture.