Senior Architect Post Secondary Lead Relocate from Alberta to Metro Vancouver, BC Established and Reputable Architectural Firm Post Secondary Leadership. Our client is a well established architectural and design practice with more than 60 years of experience delivering meaningful projects across Western Canada. With a strong presence in British Columbia and longstanding relationships with public institutions across BC, Alberta, and the Yukon, the firm is known for thoughtful design, technical excellence, and highly collaborative project delivery.

Their integrated team works across architecture, planning, interior design, and technical delivery, with experience spanning post secondary education, K to 12, healthcare, civic, commercial, and community projects. The firm has longstanding relationships with colleges and universities, an existing portfolio of completed work, and a continued pipeline of active and upcoming projects. Their work within the sector includes academic and applied learning facilities, student housing, campus renovations and expansions, student and community spaces, and longer term campus planning initiatives.

The firm is now looking for an experienced Senior Architect with direct post secondary experience who can step into a significant leadership role within this established area of the practice. For an Architect currently based in Alberta, this is an opportunity to bring your higher education experience into an established BC practice, take ownership of meaningful client and project relationships, and position yourself for increasingly senior responsibilities within the firm. This is not simply another Senior Architect position.

The firm is looking for someone who understands the unique complexities of designing and delivering projects within college and university environments and has already established themselves as a strong project and client leader. You will take a senior role across an existing post secondary portfolio,



leading complex higher education projects and working directly with colleges, universities, consultants, stakeholders, and internal project teams. Academic and teaching facilities Applied learning and trades facilities Student housing and residences Campus planning and long range development Other complex college and university facilities The firm is particularly interested in someone who understands that post secondary work goes beyond project delivery, including the funding, governance, stakeholder engagement, procurement, approvals, and planning processes that shape projects within colleges and universities.

There is also meaningful room to grow beyond individual project delivery. Lead complex post secondary projects from early planning through construction Act as a senior point of contact for college and university clients Lead internal architectural teams and multidisciplinary consultants Navigate post secondary funding, governance, stakeholder, planning, and procurement requirements Manage project priorities, schedules, quality, and client expectations Mentor architects, intern architects, and technical staff Strengthen long term relationships with existing institutional clients Work directly with senior leadership on client strategy, sector planning, and future pursuits Take on increasing responsibility for the leadership and direction of the firm's post secondary portfolio 8+ years of professional architectural experience ~ Experience working on college, university, campus, or higher education projects (mandatory)



~ Proven experience leading complex projects and multidisciplinary teams ~ Experience managing sophisticated institutional and public sector clients ~ Understanding of post secondary funding, governance, stakeholder, procurement, and project delivery processes ~ Strong knowledge of design, technical documentation, consultant coordination, and construction ~ Proficiency in Revit and contemporary architectural delivery tools ~ Strong communication, leadership, and relationship building skills ~ Experience mentoring and providing direction to developing team members ~ Ambition to progress beyond project leadership into broader sector and firm leadership There is already a strong foundation in place, with established post secondary clients, existing relationships, completed projects, and a continued pipeline of work. Your experience working with universities, colleges, public institutions, and complex stakeholder groups will be directly relevant to the work you’ll be taking on.

The Metro

Vancouver location also provides access to one of Canada’s largest architectural and development markets, while positioning you close to Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the North Shore, and the wider Lower Mainland. This isn’t about relocating for essentially the same position somewhere else. The right individual will have the opportunity to establish themselves within an important area of the practice, demonstrate how they lead projects, clients, and teams, take greater ownership over time, and progress toward broader leadership responsibilities within the firm.

Robust pipeline of active and upcoming work Direct exposure to senior firm leadership Significant influence across projects, clients, teams, and sector strategy Hybrid work schedule and flexible working hours Comprehensive health and dental benefits Life and disability coverage Health and lifestyle spending accounts

📌 Senior Architect Post Secondary Lead - Relocate to Metro Vancouver (Calgary)
🏢 Gilder Search Group
📍 Calgary