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Higher Education Practice Director

Architect Search Inc.

Austin, TX

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Benchmarking, Business Development, Business Skills, Coaching, Compensation and Benefits, Conferences, Continuous Improvement, Contract Negotiation, Cross-Functional, Deep Learning, Head of Finance, Higher Education, Identify Issues, Leadership, Market Development, Member Orientation, Mentoring, Performance Management, Profit & Loss, Project/Program Management, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulations, Strategic Planning, Sustainability, System Operations, Talent Management, Training/Teaching, Trend Analysis
LOCATION
Austin, TX
POSTED
1 day ago

Higher Education Practice Director Leadership | Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio | Hybrid Full-time

Step into a statewide platform where your impact is immediate and visible. As Higher Education Practice Director, you will set the vision, scale the practice, and shape campus experiences across Texas—backed by a high-trust culture, design-first mindset, and robust resources that let you focus on what you do best: leadership, strategy, and building meaningful places for learning.

Why this role is a career accelerator
  1. -Lead a practice with the autonomy to set strategy, elevate design quality, and grow market presence—while supported by proven delivery systems and strong operational partners.
  • -Build deep relationships with university leaders and decision-makers, guiding projects that transform how students learn, collaborate, and thrive.
  • -Mentor and scale a high-performing, multidisciplinary team—expanding your leadership footprint and legacy across multiple studios.
  • -Enjoy a flexible hybrid environment with travel that keeps you connected to teams and clients without sacrificing work-life balance.
  • -Grow long-term: structured professional development, licensure and AXP support, and clear pathways into expanded firmwide leadership.

Key responsibilities

Practice strategy and leadership
  • -Own the higher education vision, priorities, and performance statewide; align goals with market opportunities and long-term growth.
  • -Analyze pipeline, win/loss, positioning, and practice health; make data-informed decisions to sustain momentum and profitability.
  • -Build brand presence through thought leadership, speaking, and sustained engagement with the higher education community.

Design and delivery excellence
  • -Champion design rigor and delivery consistency across all studios; set benchmarks for quality, sustainability, codes, and standards.
  • -Partner with Managing Principals and Senior Project Managers to resource, troubleshoot, and elevate complex pursuits and projects.
  • -Maintain expert knowledge of trends, regulations, delivery methods, and quality control—translating insights into better outcomes.

Client engagement and business development
  • -Serve as strategic advisor to campus leadership; cultivate trust with presidents, chancellors, CFOs, and facilities leaders.
  • -Lead key pursuits: guide capture strategy, teaming, proposals, interviews, and contract negotiations.
  • -Expand relationships across systems and institutions; represent the practice at conferences and industry events.

People leadership and talent development
  • -Directly supervise and coach higher education team members; set clear expectations and celebrate growth.
  • -Lead resource planning, hiring priorities, and performance management in collaboration with studio leaders.
  • -Mentor emerging talent; support licensure and provide opportunities to earn AXP hours.

Location and workplace
  • -Texas-based, hybrid role with meaningful in-person collaboration.
  • -Role can be based in Dallas, Austin, Houston, or San Antonio.
  • -Prepared to commute to a local office three days per week and travel as needed to other offices and client sites across Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.
  • -Engage regularly with teams and clients in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio to sustain relationships and project momentum.

What you bring
  • -A record of leading complex higher education projects and pursuits—combining strategic vision with hands-on delivery excellence.
  • -Strong business acumen: market development, client growth, and practice performance management.
  • -Mastery of applicable codes, regulations, delivery methods, and quality assurance.
  • -Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams; a builder of culture, capability, and accountability.
  • -Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills at the executive and campus leadership level.
  • -An accredited professional architecture degree is required; licensure required.

Compensation and benefits that support you
  • -Competitive base compensation with performance recognition.
  • -Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
  • -Retirement plan with employer contributions.
  • -Paid time off, holidays, and flexible hybrid schedule.
  • -Professional development and leadership growth opportunities, including licensure and AXP support. [Replace with specific plan details and ranges if available.]

About the organization

This is a design-forward architecture practice with deep experience in learning environments across Texas. The team blends research-driven architecture, human-centered planning, and rigorous delivery to create spaces that elevate teaching, collaboration, and community. A culture of inquiry fuels continuous improvement in architecture, while a commitment to craft ensures each project reflects purpose, place, and long-term value. To thrive here, you bring an accredited professional architecture degree and a passion for advancing architecture that is strategic, sustainable, and measurably impactful.



About the Company

A

Architect Search Inc.

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