Senior Architect

Job Title

Senior Architect

Organizational Unit

Location

MI US (Primary)

Category

Job Type

Full-Time

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Travel Availability

Up to 25%

Job Description

Design That Does More.

At A3C Collaborative Architecture, sustainability isn't an add-on to good design. It's part of how we've approached architecture from the beginning.

Since 1983, we've partnered with clients to create responsive, sustainable solutions — bringing together architecture, interior design, technical expertise, environmental stewardship, and a genuinely collaborative approach.

Our work spans healthcare, education, municipal, corporate, community, and institutional environments, but every project starts with the same question:

How can we make this work better — for the people who use it and for the world around it?

Sustainability Is Part of the Design.

Our history in sustainable design goes back decades, from early passive and active solar strategies, earth-tempering and super-insulated buildings to today's LEED, Net Zero Energy, geothermal, solar, green roof, stormwater management, commissioning, and high-performance building solutions.

It's not sustainability for the sake of checking a box.

It's thoughtful design that considers energy, materials, performance, longevity, people, and place.

Our portfolio reflects that thinking — from LEED educational facilities and Net Zero concepts to community buildings, healthcare environments, municipal facilities, and spaces designed around the well-being of the people who use them.

The best ideas get better when people challenge them.

That's why we want architects and design professionals who bring a point of view — people who ask questions, care about the details, share what they know, and are willing to explore a different solution when the obvious one isn't the best one.

You'll collaborate with clients, consultants, architects, designers, and technical professionals from the first conversation through construction.

And you'll have a voice in the process.

Design for People.

Architecture has an impact long after a project is finished.

A healthcare environment can affect the experience of a patient and their family.

A classroom can influence how students learn.

A workplace can affect how people connect and collaborate.

And the decisions we make about energy, materials, and building performance can have an impact for decades.

We take that responsibility seriously.

Bring Your Experience. And Your Ideas.

For our senior professionals, this is an opportunity to do more than manage drawings and schedules.

Lead projects. Build client relationships. Mentor developing professionals. Solve difficult design problems. Explore sustainable solutions. Challenge the team. Share what you've learned.

And help shape where A3C goes next.

If you're looking for a practice where collaboration, sustainability, technical quality, and thoughtful design actually influence the work , we'd like to meet you.

Job Description

The Senior Architect is responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

Architectural Design & Technical Leadership

• Lead architectural design activities on complex projects from concept development through detailed design, construction, and project close-out.
• Act as a senior technical resource and key member of the project team, providing architectural leadership and direction throughout all phases of project delivery.
• Lead the preparation and review of architectural drawings, design documents, specifications, technical reports, permit/tender documents, and other project deliverables.
• Ensure architectural designs comply with applicable building codes, accessibility requirements, zoning requirements, industry standards, and client requirements.
• Apply professional judgment and technical expertise to resolve complex architectural design, code, coordination, and constructability issues.

Project & Multidisciplinary Coordination

• Act as the architectural discipline lead on assigned multidisciplinary projects.
• Lead coordination of architectural requirements with structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, interior design, and other disciplines to deliver fully integrated design solutions.
• Lead and participate in internal design reviews, multidisciplinary coordination meetings, and project planning sessions.
• Coordinate project drawings, specifications, schedules, and deliverables to identify and resolve conflicts or outstanding design issues.
• Maintain an understanding of overall project scope, schedule, budget, and objectives while managing detailed architectural requirements.
• Identify potential design, coordination, constructability, schedule, or scope concerns and work collaboratively with the Project Manager and project team to resolve them.
• Manage multiple projects, priorities, and technical requirements simultaneously while maintaining quality and project deadlines.
• Provide leadership and direction to architectural project teams, including intermediate and junior architects, designers, technologists, and CAD/BIM staff.
• Assign and coordinate architectural tasks based on project priorities, schedules, deliverables, and available resources.
• Review the work of project team members for technical accuracy, quality, coordination, and compliance with project requirements.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to intermediate and junior staff.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, communication, and knowledge sharing within the architectural team and across disciplines.

Client & Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve in a client-facing role and represent the architectural discipline throughout project delivery.
• Lead and participate in client meetings, design presentations, project updates, and technical discussions.
• Work directly with clients to understand project objectives, functional requirements, design priorities, and concerns.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, authorities having jurisdiction, and other project stakeholders.
• Clearly communicate architectural concepts, technical requirements, project considerations, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Support the Project Manager in managing client expectations, project changes, and overall project communication.

Construction Administration & Project Close-Out

• Lead and participate in architectural construction administration activities and provide technical support throughout construction.
• Review and process submittals, shop drawings, Requests for Information (RFIs), substitutions, and other construction documentation .
• Coordinate responses to RFIs and submittals with applicable engineering disciplines, consultants, and project team members.
• Conduct site reviews and field observations to assess general conformance with architectural drawings, specifications, and project requirements.
• Work collaboratively with contractors, consultants, clients, and engineering disciplines to resolve field conditions, design changes, and construction-related issues.
• Support and lead architectural aspects of project close-out, including deficiency reviews, close-out documentation, and resolution of outstanding items.
• Lead smaller projects or assume project management responsibilities on assigned projects where appropriate.
• Support Project Managers on larger or multidisciplinary projects through project planning, scheduling, coordination, and monitoring of deliverables.
• Assist in developing and monitoring architectural scopes of work, project schedules, budgets, fees, and resource requirements.
• Monitor architectural progress against established project scope, schedule, and budget and communicate potential concerns or changes.
• Assist with subconsultant scope development, coordination, and cost estimating as required.
• Support construction cost estimating, value engineering, and evaluation of design alternatives where applicable.
• Identify potential scope changes and assist in evaluating their impact on project fees, schedules, resources, and deliverables.
• Take increased project management responsibility based on project size, complexity, and assigned role.

Business Development & Proposals

• Support business development activities through technical expertise, client relationships, and knowledge of client and market needs.
• Contribute to proposal development, including architectural scopes of work, fee estimates, schedules, project approaches, and technical content.
• Participate in client presentations, interviews, and project pursuits as required.
• Identify opportunities to expand architectural or multidisciplinary services with existing clients.
• Contribute architectural expertise and project experience to support the development of new client relationships and project opportunities.

Communication & Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrate strong planning, organizational, interpersonal, leadership, and decision-making skills.
• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively within a consulting architecture and engineering environment.
• Take ownership of assigned responsibilities and follow project tasks and deliverables through to successful completion.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage numerous issues, competing priorities, and multiple projects simultaneously.

Requirements

Education & Professional Designation

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture
• Valid Registered Architect (RA) license in the State of Michigan

Experience

• Minimum 10+ years of progressive architectural design and project experience.
• Demonstrated experience working within a consulting architecture and engineering environment .
• Demonstrated experience working with multidisciplinary teams and delivering fully coordinated and integrated design solutions.
• Experience leading architectural design activities and coordinating project requirements throughout various phases of design and construction.
• Experience working on complex commercial, institutional, industrial, or similar building projects.
• Experience in healthcare architecture , including healthcare planning, design, documentation, and project delivery, is considered an asset.
• Experience working on active or occupied facilities , particularly healthcare environments requiring phased construction and coordination with ongoing operations, is considered an asset.
• Experience designing religious and faith-based facilities is considered an asset.

Codes, Standards & Technical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of applicable building codes, accessibility requirements, life safety requirements, zoning regulations, and architectural design standards .
• Ability to independently interpret and apply applicable codes, standards, regulations, specifications, and design requirements.
• Strong understanding of architectural design principles, construction methods, materials, detailing, and constructability.
• Knowledge of healthcare planning, healthcare-specific codes, regulatory requirements, and compliance processes is considered an asset.
• Ability to review architectural drawings, specifications, technical documentation, and multidisciplinary design packages for accuracy, coordination, and compliance.
• Ability to maintain an understanding of overall project objectives while continuing to manage detailed architectural and technical requirements.

Software & Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Revit/BIM for architectural design, documentation, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Proficiency with related architectural design, visualization, documentation, and collaboration tools.
• Experience utilizing BIM processes to coordinate architectural designs with structural, mechanical, electrical, and other disciplines.
• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite and related programs.

Project & People Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead architectural design activities and projects from planning and conceptual design through construction and project close-out.
• Experience coordinating architectural requirements with structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, interior design, and other disciplines .
• Ability to lead and participate effectively within multidisciplinary project teams to deliver fully integrated design solutions.
• Ability to provide technical direction, design leadership, guidance, and mentorship to intermediate and junior architectural staff.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and technical requirements simultaneously.
• Strong planning, organizational, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to identify and resolve complex architectural, technical, coordination, constructability, and regulatory issues.
• Experience coordinating with clients, consultants, contractors, authorities having jurisdiction, and other project stakeholders.

Soft Skills

• Highly motivated with strong professional discipline, initiative, and integrity.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate architectural concepts, technical information, concerns, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to develop effective working relationships with clients, project teams, consultants, and contractors.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision while also contributing effectively within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment.

WEAREANEQUALOPPORTUNITYEMPLOYERCOMMITTEDTODIVERSITYANDACCOMMODATION

Ann Arbor Collaborative Architecture (A3C) isanequalopportunityemployerthatwelcomesandencouragesapplicationsfromallcandidates.Wearecommittedtodiversityintheworkplace.Allqualifiedapplicantswillreceiveconsiderationforemploymentwithoutregardtorace,color,religion,sex,genderidentity,sexualorientation,nationalorigin,disability,protectedveteranstatus,oranyotherprotectedcharacteristicundergovernmentallawsandregulations.

Accommodationsareavailableuponrequestforallcandidatesparticipatingintherecruitment,selection,andonboardingprocess.

Tandem Group Consulting Solutions, Tandem Engineering Group, and Baird AE are equal opportunity employers that welcome and encourage applications from all candidates. We are committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under governmental laws and regulations. Accommodations are available on request for candidates participating in the recruitment, selection, and onboarding process. Only those we are interested in will be contacted.