Project Architect, Education Practice Lead

About this role

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm. Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge. Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work. Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm. Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential. Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.   Overview The Project Architect and Practice Lead for the Education practice serves as both project leadership and strategic advisor to enhance SOM’s education work, for higher education and K12. This role advances the firm's strategic growth through business development, market leadership, and professional engagement.  This position works directly with Partnership, Principals, and other Practice Leaders to extend leadership across projects, elevate design quality, strengthen client relationships, and strengthen the practice through mentorship, innovation, operational excellence, and organizational leadership.  This role requires active engagement in understanding and articulating the forces that shape education buildings and campuses- it requires understanding of the education market, development of relevant data, tools, and models to serve these clients, and contributes to design innovation to advance SOM’s reputation of design excellence in this practice area. Knowledge and expertise in campus master planning, space programming, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach for Education institutions is required.

Through oversight of design teams and close collaboration with project leadership, this role focuses on alignment of design objectives with client expectations ensuring projects are delivered with exceptional service, strategic value and meet the firm’s financial performance targets. A core requirement of this position is to build talent in the studio from both a design and management perspective by mentoring teams, strengthening design judgment and effective communication and creating pathways for staff development through project work. 

Practice Lead Responsibilities • Contributes to the creation and implementation of functional business plans by identifying growth areas, desired clients, strategic opportunities, and the most effective ways to position SOM in the market.

• Shapes and implements practice-level priorities, including positioning, messaging themes, and business development goals in alignment with Practice Leaders and functional market leadership and Marketing.

• Co-leads Practice Group Meetings with Practice Leaders to lead discussions about active pursuits, business development activity, and financials and collaborates with Practice Leaders and functional leadership to evaluate potential clients and new projects. 

• Co-manages pipeline with Functional Practice Leaders and understands pipeline, win rates and ROI, and reports out regularly to the Global Marketing Directors and leadership on functional market progress.

• Identifies patterns, trends, client themes, and cross-market opportunities by conducting, synthesizing, and organizing market, client, competitor, and historical research to inform strategic planning, business positioning, functional market growth, pursuit strategy, and leadership decision-making. 

• Contributes to the improvement of firmwide practice marketing assets and knowledge systems, including project data, imagery, reusable narratives, and content organization.

• Drives business development activity in collaboration with Practice Leaders, including evaluation of potential clients and new projects, pipeline management, Go/No Go decision-making, and active pursuit strategy.

• Represents SOM to clients, consultants, and industry organizations; develops and maintains a strong business network in relevant functional markets; identifies and strategizes participation in conferences and events; and advises and mentors staff on writing, storytelling, interview preparation, content strategy, and market positioning techniques.

• Facilitates integrated, participatory, and data-informed planning and design processes on Education projects.

• Advises teams and clients on best practices, trends, and strategies to implement best-in-class planning and design solutions for teaching and learning environments.

• Extends the reach of Education Practice leadership by representing the practice in project work, design reviews, client engagements, and internal collaboration across offices and teams.

• Guides project teams in early stakeholder engagement, programming, and scope definition for educational spaces and campus environments.

Project Responsibilities • Leads Architectural Project Teams through close collaboration with SOM Partners and Project Leadership to achieve design excellence, technical rigor, and successful client outcomes.

• On select projects, serves as a day-to-day design and management leader across

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