Director of Architecture

WHO WE ARE

Michael Baker International is a leading provider of Architecture, Engineering, and Consulting services, including design, planning, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker’s more than 4,000 employees across nearly 90 office locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

INTEGRATED DESIGN and ADVISORY (IDA)

Integrated Design and Advisory is one of three business verticals at Michael Baker International with more than 850 professionals located across the country. We unite architecture and engineering design expertise with strategic advisory services to deliver holistic and innovative solutions that address the business and project objectives of our clients. We serve market sectors, including industrial, defense contractors, data centers, aerospace, life sciences, healthcare, higher education, aviation, rail and transit, and the federal government.

Our multidisciplinary approach leverages the early involvement of all project stakeholders and key disciplines including planning, architecture, interior design, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural and fire protection (MEP+S+FP) engineering. Our Advisory capabilities provide solutions across the project life cycle along with sustainability and resilience. This offering highlights the firm’s expertise in areas such as strategic consulting, planning, cybersecurity, building controls, cost management, commissioning, program management, construction support, building information modeling, digital twins, emergency response, disaster recovery, operational continuity, energy resiliency and more.

Over the past 85 years, Michael Baker has built a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation, and integrity as we partner with our clients to solve complex built environment and critical infrastructure challenges. We have achieved success as a company by employing a solutions-oriented mindset and continually evolving our capabilities to best serve our clients. Integrated Design and Advisory supports our long-term growth strategy, enhanced capabilities, and unique areas of expertise that focus on high performance buildings, intelligent systems, and critical infrastructure. We are focused on an integrated approach, informed decision-making, and innovative solutions to aggressively pursue, win, and execute large, complex projects for government and private sector clients.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

We’re expanding our Architecture team in Salt Lake City! Michael Baker International is hiring a Director of Architecture to lead strategic growth for our local team and strengthen our Integrated Design and Advisory presence. This leadership role will guide architectural resources across our multi-disciplinary practice and evolving market sectors, driving goals, values, and growth strategies.

As a champion of the seller-doer model, the Director will focus on business development in emerging private markets while supporting established sectors like Federal, Aviation, and Transit. The ideal candidate is a licensed Architect with proven success managing A/E programs and collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams. Strong communication and relationship-building skills—internally and externally—are essential.

Key priorities include:

• Leading project planning, quality management, and risk assessment
• Ensuring scope, schedule, and budget alignment
• Driving proposal development and marketing efforts
• Promoting creative design, technical excellence, and performance across global Architecture projects

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Bold leadership through performance management, accountability, flexibility around unexpected issues/challenges, conflict management, and empathy.
• Balance technical alignment with staff, projects, and clients. Coordinate throughout IDA leveraging the strength and diverse array of talents throughout our organization to effectively meet our client’s needs.
• Ensure consistent use and application of operations management tools and facilitate weekly coordination meetings to facilitate effective resource planning, quality management, and project execution.
• Facilitate inter-office/inter-disciplinary collaboration, communication, and cooperation.
• Constructively critique individual and team efforts, towards continuous improvement.
• Champion staff development through coaching and mentoring
• Work with Operations Managers to ensure staff maintain certifications and current licensing and training requirements to meet government regulatory requirements.
• Actively identify and recruit industry talent for strategic growth.
• Encourage uniformly high design and production standards and monitors projects to ensure that quality and production standards are met for all design and contract documents. 
• Foster a continuous learning culture by encouraging communication and the sharing of ideas and technical knowledge through mentoring, in-house presentations, case studies, and continuing education opportunities.
• Build rapport and establish positive relationships with existing and prospective clients to ensure client-focused performance.
• Actively participate with professional and community-focused organizations to grow relationships and introduce/educate potential clients towards the Architecture/Building Engineering Practice at Michael Baker International.

ADDITIONAL KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and promote collective leadership presence within the Salt Lake City Office, reporting “in-person” to the physical office approximately three (3) days per week.
• This local leadership position provides oversight and direction for all our local IDA resources, as well as evolving Market Sectors; and encompasses establishing and implementing goals and objectives, developing and promoting IDA’s values and strategic plans, and positioning for growth. 
• Regularly attend local industry and client events representing the comprehensive capabilities of IDA to promote brand awareness.
• Collaborate office space needs with Infrastructure Office Executive.
• Serve as the main point of contact for IDA within the Salt Lake City Office.
• Organize IDA meetings, events, and team-building activities monthly.
• Foster a positive and inclusive office culture.
• Provide administrative support to senior leadership as needed.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• BS/BA Architecture; Bachelor of Architecture; or MS/MA Architecture. with active licensure as a Registered Architect (RA) in the State of Utah. NCARB Certification is required, given potential projects geography.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA) membership is highly preferred.
• LEED Accredited Professional BD+C is highly preferred.
• Strong leadership with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the design, documentation, and management of multi-disciplinary architecture/building engineering projects and staff resources beyond initial licensure.
• Thorough knowledge of the business of Architecture with demonstrated experience leading, directing, and managing people.
• Travel (15%+/-) is anticipated based on program/project responsibilities.

DESIRED REQUIREMENTS

• Strong business leadership and financial acumen.
• Proficient experience and understanding of interdisciplinary relationships between technical resources, clients, and stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge/proficiency with Building Information Modeling (BIM) [Autodesk Revit Architecture], technical specifications software, as well as applicable building codes, and application project implementation. 
• Understanding and experience with technical specifications software, including SpecsIntact, MasterSpec, etc., as well as Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) and building codes.
• Excellent computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Adobe, and Bluebeam.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills exhibited through the ability to articulate ideas, both verbally and in writing; personable and outgoing in work relationships, both externally and internally; highly precise, detailed, and self-organized; frank and candid during all business relationships.
• Specific experience with Design/Build and other alternate project delivery methods is highly preferred. 
• Business development experience is highly preferred, including research and developing responses to Requests for Proposals (RFP), as well as an oversight of written and graphic marketing materials.

COMPENSATION

The approximate compensation range for this position is $160,000 to $200,000 annually. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting.  Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

#LI-LL1