Senior Architect Post Secondary Lead

Relocate from Alberta to Metro Vancouver, BC

Established and Reputable Architectural Firm

Salary: $110,000 to $130,000

Post Secondary Leadership.

Established

Clients.

Meaningful Career

Progression.

About the Firm 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 team-oriented 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.

Post secondary education is an established and important sector of the practice. 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.

About the Role 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.

Your experience may include

Academic and teaching facilities

Applied learning and trades facilities

Science, research, and laboratory environments

Student housing and residences

Campus renovations and expansions

Student services and amenity spaces

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.

As you establish yourself within the practice, strengthen existing client relationships, and take greater ownership across the post secondary portfolio, there is an opportunity to expand your mandate into broader sector, team, client, and firm leadership.

For someone who has reached a point in their current firm where the next step feels limited, this is an opportunity to make a strategic career move rather than simply a geographic one.

What You'll Be Doing Lead complex post secondary projects from early planning through construction

Act as a senior point of contact for college and university clients

Take ownership of key relationships within an established post secondary portfolio

Lead internal architectural teams and multidisciplinary consultants

Oversee design development, documentation, coordination, approvals, and construction delivery

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

Support continued work and future opportunities with colleges and universities

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

What They're Looking For Registered Architect in Alberta, British Columbia, or another Canadian jurisdiction

Eligibility to obtain registration with the AIBC

8+ years of qualified 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

Why Make the Move to Metro Vancouver? For an established Alberta Architect with post secondary experience, this role provides an opportunity to combine a move to British Columbia with a genuine step forward professionally.

You’ll be joining an established Western Canadian practice rather than starting over in a current market. 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.

Most importantly, the firm is actively looking at the next generation of its leadership.

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.

What the Firm Offers Competitive compensation of $110,000 to $130,000, depending on experience

Meaningful career progression into broader leadership

Leadership role within an established post secondary portfolio

Longstanding college and university client relationships

Strong 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

Professional development and continuing education support

Comprehensive health and dental benefits

Life and disability coverage

Health and lifestyle spending accounts

Collaborative and supportive studio culture

Free parking and regular team events

Job #16817838

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