Director, Architecture

Discovery Land Company•Beverly Hills, CA

6h•Remote

About The Position

Discovery Land Company is seeking a full-time, year-round Director, Architecture for its Creative Services Department. This remote role requires regular travel to project sites. The Director serves as Discovery Creative’s lead architectural voice across assigned luxury residential, private club, and mixed-use developments, from acquisition through delivery. Reporting to the Executive Director, Head of Discovery Creative, the Director establishes and guides architectural direction with project teams and outside architects, advises executive leadership on design decisions at critical milestones, and protects design intent, character, and sense of place. The role is accountable for the quality and consistency of architecture across the Discovery portfolio. The Director contributes to early project strategy and concept development, guides design reviews, helps form project design teams, and develops architectural standards. The position partners with Development, Sales and Marketing, Operations, Construction, and other creative disciplines to balance aesthetic goals with operational and financial performance. The Director also presents recommendations to leadership and project partners, manages and develops design staff, and helps build the internal architecture team as the portfolio grows. The position calls for a degree in architecture, interior design, or a related field; licensure is a plus. Candidates should have at least 10 years of architecture experience on luxury projects, including at least four years on the owner, developer, or advisory side. Regular travel and flexible scheduling, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, are required. Long hours may be required due to business demands. The role involves indoor and outdoor work in all weather conditions, standing, walking, and moving for periods exceeding eight hours, and lifting and carrying items sometimes greater than 50 pounds. The stated good-faith salary range upon hire is $175,000–$198,000, plus bonus. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision benefits; 401(k) contribution; paid time off and paid holidays; employee meals; referral incentives and recognition programs; professional development and upward mobility opportunities; and a work-family culture.

Requirements

10+ years in architecture on luxury projects, including 4+ years on the owner, developer, or advisory side.
Experience on private club, resort residential, hospitality, or master-planned projects, including horizontal development.
Experience directing and critiquing the work of internationally recognized architects and design teams.
Strong conceptual design skills, including massing, test fits, and sketching.
Understanding of club operations, including front and back of house, and how they shape design and programming.
Solid understanding of how design drives pricing, absorption, and buyer experience.
Working knowledge of construction, cost management, zoning, and offering-plan requirements.
Exceptional taste with commercial discipline.
Strong presentation and communication skills with internal leadership, consultants, and brand partners.
Degree in architecture, interior design, or a related field; licensure is a plus.
Ability to travel regularly.
Flexibility and ability to pivot to new projects in a dynamic, fast-moving environment.
Positive attitude, professional demeanor, and exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work in a team environment and stay calm and focused during busy periods.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Ability to work flexible hours and schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays; long hours may be required due to business demands.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions, stand, walk, and move for periods greater than eight hours, and lift and carry items sometimes greater than 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Additional languages are preferred.
Licensure in architecture is a plus.

Responsibilities

Participate in acquisition and underwriting to align programming, vision, and business assumptions.
Develop land-plan concepts, high-level architectural concepts, test fits, and programming studies.
Establish early architectural direction, including massing, character, materiality, and the relationship of buildings to site.
Guide architectural design for clubhouses, amenity and golf buildings, residences, and mixed-use components.
Lead architectural peer reviews through the Discovery Creative review process and provide clear, timely feedback at key milestones.
Verify that design intent is maintained through each phase of design and development.
Participate in Discovery Creative team review sessions and consolidate comments for project leads.
Advise on selecting design architects, architects of record, and project design leadership; recommend selections to the Executive Director.
Draft scopes and RFPs, evaluate fee proposals, and support agreement negotiations with Development and Legal.
Develop and maintain architectural principles, standards, and guidelines in the Discovery Creative Library.
Promote portfolio consistency while encouraging innovation and evolution.
Partner with Development, Sales and Marketing, Operations, and Construction to balance aesthetic excellence with operational and financial performance.
Support amenity programming, sales center design, and launch strategy.
Contribute to value-engineering decisions that preserve creative integrity.
Support projects through zoning, planning, architectural, and community design review.
Work with branding and marketing agencies and the sales team on the design story across collateral, digital, and broker materials.
Coordinate with Discovery Creative interiors, landscape, golf, land planning, and procurement leads.
Present design recommendations to the Executive Director, development leaders, and project partners, and support the Executive Director in presentations to executive leadership and investors.
Manage and develop design staff and help build the internal architecture team as the portfolio grows.
Capture lessons learned and contribute to repeatable standards.
Adapt to new projects and work in a dynamic, fast-moving environment; provide service to members, guests, and team members; and work collaboratively while remaining calm during busy periods.