Architecture Principal - Mid-Atlantic

INTEGRATED DESIGN and ADVISORY (IDA)

Integrated Design and Advisory (IDA) is one of four (4) 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 service underscores the firm's proficiency across a range of domains including 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, among other areas.

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

Michael Baker International is expanding its Architecture team in the Mid-Atlantic Region. We are seeking an Architecture Principal to provide strategic leadership for our Alexandria (Washington, DC), Baltimore, and Columbia (SC) Architecture Teams, as well as enhance our Integrated Design and Advisory presence. This pivotal senior leadership role, reporting to the SVP/Architecture Practice Executive within our IDA Business Vertical, will oversee and guide Architecture resources across our multi-disciplinary practice and evolving market sectors. Key duties are setting goals, advancing core values and strategies, and driving growth.  In addition to fostering a seller-doer culture, this position emphasizes expanding local and regional business development, cultivating client relationships, and pursuing opportunities in emerging private sector markets, while also supporting established markets such as Federal, Aviation, and Transit in partnership with our multidisciplinary leadership team.

The ideal candidate is a licensed Architect with proven experience in delivering architectural and engineering programs and projects. This includes leading multi-disciplinary design teams—composed of architects, interior designers, civil engineers, and building systems engineers—across geographically dispersed locations. The role requires strong collaboration and communication skills, as well as the ability to foster new and reinforce existing relationships internally with colleagues and externally with clients. Effective, precise, and consistent communication is critical for working with leadership and project teams to define work plans, set responsibilities, manage quality, assess risks, and clarify scope of authority. The candidate is also responsible for ensuring that all project milestones and objectives are achieved within established scope, schedule, and budget constraints, while transparently documenting and reporting progress. Key priorities include proposal development and marketing efforts, with a focus on innovative design solutions, technical excellence, and high performance on architecture projects globally.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Challenge the status quo in a constructive manner while providing robust design/architecture leadership. This is a seller doer role with 30% target utilization.
• Demonstrate proactive leadership in advancing operational excellence, championing both innovation and integrity in every aspect of design and project management. Engage thoughtfully with multidisciplinary teams to optimize resource allocation and elevate quality standards across deliverables. Inspire a collaborative atmosphere where ideas flourish and technical expertise is shared, nurturing professional growth and succession throughout the organization. Cultivate strong client relationships by consistently delivering value, anticipating needs, and adapting to evolving project demands, all while upholding the core mission and values of the company.
• Ensure consistent use and application of operations management tools and conduct weekly coordination meetings with local/assigned Architecture Directors to facilitate effective resource planning, project execution, and quality management.
• Facilitate inter-office/inter-disciplinary collaboration, communication, and cooperation.
• Encourage uniformly high design and standards. Monitor projects to ensure that quality and production standards are met with 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.
• Mentor and motivate staff with performance feedback, technical guidance, fiscal management, and client relations.
• Identify and develop emerging talent and leadership to create upward opportunity and succession planning. Actively identify and assist in recruiting industry talent for strategic pursuits and projects.
• Establish strong relationships with clients to deliver client-focused results.
• Support and/or lead strategy and messaging for targeted pursuits, crafting proposals. Aid in developing gap analyses, competitive assessments, key differentiators, win themes, and overall value proposition.
• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of capture strategies aimed at enhancing the likelihood of success in targeted pursuits. Engage in Go/No-Go decision-making evaluations.
• 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 Mid-Atlantic Region, reporting “in-person” to a physical office approximately three (3) days per week and serve as the main point of contact for IDA.
• 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, as applicable.
• Organize IDA meetings, events, and team-building activities monthly.
• Foster a positive and inclusive office culture.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Strong leadership with deep expertise and strong, well‑established professional relationships across the Mid‑Atlantic Region to drive growth and elevate our regional presence.
• Minimum of 20 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.
• Strong business leadership and financial acumen.
• Specific experience with Design/Build and other alternate project delivery methods is highly preferred. 
• Comprehensive understanding of the collaborative inter-relationships between Architecture and engineering disciplines, clients, and constructors.
• Experience with digital delivery, including BIM, and the ability to collaborate and guide our team on implementing AI-driven, generative, and parametric tools.
• Proficient experience and understanding of interdisciplinary relationships between technical resources, clients, and stakeholders.
• 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.
• 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.
• Excellent computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Adobe, and Bluebeam.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• BS/BA Architecture; Bachelor of Architecture; or MS/MA Architecture. with active licensure as a Registered Architect (RA) in Mid-Atlantic states, minimum. 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.
• Travel (25%+/-) is anticipated based on program/project responsibilities.

COMPENSATION

The approximate compensation range for this position is $170,000 to $245,000 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.

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