Chief Strategy Officer

Description

About PRA

PRA is an architecture, interior design, and planning firm with more than 90 years of experience. From our offices in Austin, TX, Madison, WI, Milwaukee, WI, Sarasota, FL, St. Louis, MO, and Waterloo, IA - we work as one team, combining firmwide expertise with local knowledge to help organizations navigate complex challenges and create places that work for the people and communities they serve.

We listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and bring together creativity, technical expertise, and practical experience throughout the design and construction process. Together with our clients, we create purposeful environments that perform, inspire, and endure for life.

About the Role

PRA is seeking a Chief Strategy Officer to provide executive leadership for the firm's strategic direction, growth strategy, organizational alignment, market positioning, and client and employee experience. This newly created leadership role will work in close partnership with the CEO, President, Partners, and firm leaders, championing PRA's strategic plan as a living roadmap, translating priorities into measurable initiatives, and fostering firmwide understanding and accountability for long-term success while supporting PRA's growing national presence and expanding market influence.

The Chief Strategy Officer will lead PRA's marketing, business development, brand strategy, and market intelligence functions, ensuring each area is coordinated and aligned with PRA's mission, business priorities, and values. This position will directly lead the Marketing and Business Development Strategy team. This leadership role is located at PRA's Milwaukee, WI office.

What You'll Do

• Guide PRA's strategic planning process by driving firmwide alignment, communication, progress reviews, and planning discussions.
• Translate firm strategy into measurable marketing, business development, growth, and market intelligence initiatives.
• Lead industry research, market analysis, benchmarking, and performance reporting to inform strategy and competitive positioning.
• Develop and execute a firmwide business development plan that strengthens pursuit strategy, client engagement, market visibility, and long-term growth opportunities.
• Oversee marketing strategy, external communications, brand standards, proposals, collateral, digital platforms, events, and marketing analytics.
• Advance a hospitality-focused client experience model across business development, marketing, events, communications, and other client-facing functions.
• Lead strategic Go/No-Go decisions for pursuits, proposals, and business development opportunities balancing thoughtful evaluation with the ability to make timely decisions and move opportunities forward.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify new business opportunities, service offerings, innovation priorities, and operational improvements.
• Lead, coach, and hold the Marketing and Business Development Strategy team accountable for priorities, deadlines, outcomes, and continuous improvement, helping the team sustain systems, adjust schedules, and bring closure to projects.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of professional experience in marketing, business development, communications, strategy, or related leadership roles; while experience in architecture, engineering, construction or design is valued, it is not required for consideration.
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, lead, and execute marketing and business development strategies.
• Strong leadership, management, communication, relationship-building, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to establish priorities and create systems that support progress and closure.
• Experience with strategic planning, implementation, organizational growth, and performance metrics.
• Advanced understanding of brand management, external communications, proposals, client development, market research, and competitive positioning.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Partners, senior leadership, technical staff, and external partners.
• Sound judgment, discretion with confidential information, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, viewpoints, deadlines, and personalities in a creative work environment, while navigating uncertainty, exploring alternatives and making timely decisions.
• A strong commitment to PRA's core values: Creativity, Collaboration, and Commitment.

Employee Experience at PRA

Across our six offices with 115 employees, PRA offers a OnePRA culture built on mutual respect, growth, meaningful involvement, and fun. We are committed to helping employees shape their future through mentorship, training, opportunities to use and expand their skills, and a workplace where every voice matters.

PRA offers a total rewards package designed to support wellbeing, work-life balance, retirement security, professional growth, and connection. Benefits available to PRA employees include medical, dental, vision, life, disability, critical illness and accident protection, pet insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k) match and profit-sharing contributions, flexible schedules, hybrid work options, wellness and medical allowances, licensure support, paid training and study time, parking, social events, branded apparel allowance, and other employee recognition programs.

This leadership role may also offer a path to future ownership at PRA.

Work Environment

This role is generally performed in an office setting. Travel will be required for client meetings, visits to PRA offices, industry events, business development activities, offsite work, and firm meetings, typically averaging once per month. Work outside standard business hours may be required based on business needs.

PRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer operating under a Non-Discrimination in Employment Plan.