Principal / Regional Office Leader – Bay Area

San Jose Or Oakland, CA
Full Time
Senior Executive

Are you a strategic, people-centered design leader who thrives at the intersection of culture, business growth, and design excellence? Do you enjoy shaping teams, mentoring future leaders, and advancing meaningful work across Civic, Education, and Healthcare markets? If so, we invite you to consider the role of Regional Office Lead – Architecture.

This senior leadership position serves as the primary leader for a regional office, responsible for its overall success, culture, and business performance. Reporting to the Chief Practice Officer or Chief Executive Officer, the Regional Office Lead is a key member of the Firm’s leadership team, providing strategic direction while advancing the Firm’s mission, values, and standards of excellence.

This role emphasizes people leadership, office culture, business development, and operational performance, with selective involvement in Education, Civic, and/or Healthcare project work to remain professionally engaged and connected to design leadership.

As the Regional Office Lead – Architecture, you will…

Lead the Office and Advance Practice Excellence
  • Provide senior leadership for the regional office, with accountability for culture, operations, and performance.
  • Set and track goals aligned with firmwide strategy, foster an inclusive and high-performing studio environment, and actively participate in firmwide leadership, planning, and governance.
  • Collaborate closely with practice and market leaders to ensure regional alignment and impact.

Drive Business Development and Client Relationships
  • Serve as a senior client leader across Civic, Education, and Healthcare markets, taking a lead role in one market while supporting the growth of others through close collaboration with existing market and technical leaders.
  • Build and sustain strong client relationships, lead and support business development efforts, identify regional growth opportunities, and represent the firm in professional and community settings.
  • Contribute to pursuit strategy, proposal development, and client interviews.

Provide Project and Design Leadership
  • Offer senior-level oversight on select projects, serving as Principal-in-Charge as appropriate.
  • Ensure projects meet client expectations, firm standards, and financial goals, while championing design excellence, innovation, and the sharing of best practices across teams.

Oversee Operational and Financial Performance
  • Manage office-level financial performance, including forecasting, staffing, and resource planning.
  • Review fee proposals, scopes, and contracts; monitor project and office performance; and address risks proactively.
  • Uphold firm standards for quality, delivery, and client service, including QA/QC leadership.
Mentor, Develop, and Inspire Teams
  • Coach and mentor staff at all levels, supporting professional growth, leadership development, and succession planning.
  • Partner with firm leadership on hiring, talent development, and retention, and promote collaboration across disciplines, markets, and service groups.
The Must-Haves (Required)
  • Bachelor’s degree in architecture
  • Minimum of 18 years of relevant professional experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform at the Associate Principal level or higher.
  • Strong leadership, communication, and people management skills.
  • Proven ability to build culture, lead teams, and drive business performance.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
  • California Licensed Architect
The Like-to-Haves (Not Required)
  • LEED accreditation.
  • Experience leading multi-market or multi-disciplinary practices.
  • Established regional professional and client network.

Why You’ll Love Lionakis…
At Lionakis, people and design come first. You’ll find:
  • A collaborative, design-forward culture that values creativity, mentorship, and shared success.
  • The chance to shape stories that impact real communities.
  • Hybrid work flexibility, every-other-Friday off options, and a comprehensive benefits package (bonus plan, 401(k) with match, health/dental/vision, generous PTO).
  • A workplace deeply committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – in our projects, our people, and our culture.
Join us and help bring our design vision to life—one story at a time.

Compensation: $185,000 to $210,000 annually. Compensation and level DOE.

Studies have shown that underrepresented individuals like women; LGBTQIA+; and BIPOC, among others, are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications in a job description or posting. Because we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, we understand the best candidate may come from a non-traditional background to our field of work. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described above. Diversity makes us better.
 
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