The client is seeking an experienced architecture executive for a CEO/COO role supporting a growth-oriented architecture organization. This position will help shape the organization’s vision from the ground up by establishing the operating foundation for a growing enterprise, strengthening performance across affiliated practices, and serving as a trusted industry leader as the organization expands. The CEO/COO role is expected to directly influence strategy, operations, integration, and long-term growth, with meaningful visibility to the organization’s ownership group.
Key responsibilities include setting the operating agenda across project execution, talent deployment, client service, technology, and financial results. The role will develop practical operating frameworks to improve consistency across affiliated practices while preserving relationships, culture, and market strengths of established firms. It will also guide the transition and integration of newly added architecture businesses by coordinating leadership, employees, clients, processes, and systems, and will develop shared capabilities across functions when centralization improves performance.
The ideal candidate will bring 15 or more years of experience in the architecture sector, including substantial senior operating leadership within an architecture practice in roles such as COO, principal, managing partner, or a comparable executive position. They should demonstrate measurable business success in areas such as delivery discipline, profitability, workforce planning, and operating systems, and maintain trusted relationships across the architecture community beyond a single firm or specialty. The role requires executive accountability for business results, including P&L ownership and clear communication with an ownership group or comparable stakeholders, as well as experience integrating acquired organizations or scaling multi-office environments; regular travel across the United States for practice visits, leadership meetings, and enterprise initiatives is expected.