Senior Project Architect

Job Description

Job Description

There are two reasons why this position might NOT be a fit for you:

• You prefer established structure over building one.
• You would rather maintain than create.

The right person is someone who is willing to challenge themselves to establish something we've never seen.

What you want:

• I want my experience to be fully used.
• I want real responsibility and authority, not just more tasks.
• I want to lead projects, clients, consultants, and people.
• I want my ideas to be heard and acted on quickly.
• I want direct access to leadership and influence over real business decisions.
• I want to help build systems, standards, and culture—not just inherit someone else’s playbook.
• I want meaningful, technically challenging work that requires judgment and problem-solving.
• I want to become a trusted advisor to clients, not simply the architect producing drawings.
• I want to mentor others and see people grow because of my leadership.
• I want a visible path into greater leadership—Studio Director, Principal, executive leadership, and potentially future development ventures.
• I want my contribution to matter beyond individual projects.
• I want to help build something I can look back on and say, “I helped create that.”

Who we need:

• A builder, not a maintainer.
• A leader who doesn't need a title to lead.
• Someone who can run complex projects with minimal direction.
• Someone technically excellent in healthcare architecture.
• A problem solver who is comfortable with ambiguity.
• Someone who makes timely decisions without having every answer.
• A trusted advisor who can confidently lead clients and consultants.
• A mentor who develops people without micromanaging them.
• Someone who takes ownership of outcomes—not just their assigned tasks.
• Someone willing to challenge assumptions and improve how we work.
• Someone who can create systems and standards where they don't yet exist.
• Someone with low ego and high accountability.
• Someone who sees what's missing and takes initiative to fix it.
• Someone who wants to help build the business, not just deliver projects.

What you'll do:

• Lead complex healthcare projects from planning through construction.
• Make the technical decisions that keep projects moving.
• Lead clients, consultants, and project teams with confidence.
• Build trusted relationships that turn clients into long-term partners.
• Mentor architects and help develop future leaders.
• Set the standard for technical quality and accountability.
• Solve difficult problems others tend to avoid.
• Improve the systems, workflows, and standards we use every day.
• Work directly with the CEO on strategy and new ideas.
• Help pursue new clients, markets, and business opportunities.
• Help build YSA into the firm we know it can become.

Role Purpose:

The Senior Project Architect exists to provide technical leadership and ensure the successful delivery of YSA's architectural projects. This role leads project design and execution, mentors team members, strengthens technical standards, and builds trusted relationships with clients, consultants, and regulatory agencies.

As one of the firm's key leaders, the Senior Project Architect helps clients navigate complex regulatory requirements with confidence while delivering projects that improve healthcare environments and the communities they serve. Beyond project delivery, this role contributes directly to the continuous improvement of YSA's systems, people, and technical capabilities, supporting the firm's long-term vision of expanding into new markets and real estate development.

Role Description:

The Senior Project Architect is more than a project manager or technical expert — they are a leader who takes ownership of outcomes. Working directly with the CEO, this individual leads multidisciplinary project teams from concept through construction administration while serving as the primary technical resource for clients, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies.

Most firms ask an architect to fit into their systems. We are asking this person to help build ours. YSA is established enough that the work is already here, and young enough that our processes, standards, and culture are still being shaped — which means every person on this team leaves a lasting mark on how we operate. We trust experienced professionals to solve problems, challenge assumptions, and continuously improve the way we work; nobody here needs permission to make something better. In a firm our size, ideas do not disappear into layers of management.

Success in this role requires strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and a proactive mindset. The ideal candidate enjoys solving complex problems, mentoring others, improving processes, and building lasting relationships. At YSA, we believe architecture is about creating confidence as much as creating buildings. As the firm grows beyond its healthcare foundation into broader markets and future development opportunities, this role offers a genuine path into senior leadership and the chance to shape the next chapter of the company.

Job Type:

Full-time, One-site

Salary:

$130,000 - 140,000 / year starting

Benefits:

• Performance-based compensation review after 90 days
• Annual performance bonus
• Company-paid medical, dental, vision & life insurance (family coverage)
• 401(k) with company match
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored lunches, dinners, and team events
• AIA and NCARB dues reimbursed
• Continuing-education classes covered

Minimum Qualifications:

• Architect licensure in California, held at the time of starting the role
• Fluent in Title 24 / CBSC, and able to find what is needed
• OSHPD 1 experience, start to finish, regardless of project size
• OSHPD 2 experience, start to finish, regardless of project size
• Fluent in Revit and Autodesk Construction Cloud (BIM 360)
• Experience leading a minimum of 3 internal members (including yourself) and a minimum of 5 consultants simultaneously on a project
• Experience mentoring staff — able to develop people without micromanaging them
• Experience communicating directly with HCAI officers and AHJ personnel
• Experience in construction administration and client management
• Ability to interpret and advise on external consultants' drawings and calculations
• Ability to budget projects and write proposals
• Makes timely decisions, even with incomplete information, and leads through persuasion rather than command
• Gives and receives direct feedback comfortably; coachable and open to additional training
• Honesty and a no-excuse mindset; holds themselves accountable
• Highly conscientious, prompt, and reliable; calm under pressure
• Data driven — comfortable with spreadsheets, numbers, and accuracy
• Clear communicator and team player; low ego, high ownership
• Self-directed, proactive problem solver who is not afraid to ask for help
• Exceptional organization and time management skills
• Open to other project typologies as the firm expands
• Ability to work in the U.S. without any VISA sponsorship.

We do not have any specific year of experience requirement.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

YSA is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Additionally, pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified candidates with arrests/ conviction records will not be excluded from consideration.

About us:

Yusuke Shinozaki & Associates (YSA) is a full-service architecture and planning firm dedicated to creating safe, functional, and high-performing built environments. We provide comprehensive services throughout the project lifecycle, including facility assessments, feasibility studies, planning, architectural design, construction documentation, 3D visualization, and construction administration.

YSA is recognized for its expertise in healthcare architecture, serving hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, behavioral health and mental health rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and assisted living communities. We specialize where few firms do, and we solve the problems others avoid: HCAI approvals, licensing, code compliance, and construction administration. Our clients do not simply receive a set of drawings — they receive the confidence of knowing their project will survive inspection, licensing, and scrutiny.

Healthcare is our foundation, not our ceiling. We currently have more than 100 active projects, and as we grow we are expanding into additional commercial and institutional sectors. Regardless of project type, our commitment is the same: thoughtful design, technical excellence, and trusted guidance that help our clients achieve their long-term goals.