Principal in Charge - Civic & Community

Work at HMC•Los Angeles, CA

8d•$137,058 - $211,256•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal in Charge will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing major civic, public-sector, and community-based projects through all phases of development. Where applicable, provides direction to assigned staff and serves as the primary point of contact for public agency clients and community stakeholders. This role leads client relationships, assigns appropriate staff, and establishes and maintains budgets, schedules, and adherence to contractual and regulatory requirements. The Principal in Charge has authority to direct, control, and monitor all project activities, with a strong ability to manage complex stakeholder environments, public processes, and multiple project teams simultaneously. This position is responsible for ongoing marketing and business development, maintaining a consistent backlog of work, and becoming a recognized presence within civic, municipal, and community-focused markets relevant to HMC. This position is based in our Los Angeles or Ontario, California offices. The position requires 3 days in the office and the ability to work from home Mondays and Fridays.

Requirements

Architectural degree from an accredited university or equivalent demonstrated proficiency
Architectural license preferred but not required
Minimum of 12 years of experience in production and coordination of documents in all phases of architectural practice, including management of civic, municipal, or community-based projects
Minimum of 5 years of recent experience leading public-sector projects, with demonstrated experience working with government agencies, public approvals, and stakeholder coordination
Minimum of 2 years in a senior leadership role, leading project teams and engaging in successful business development activities
Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects and multidisciplinary teams
Strong communication skills, including the ability to engage agency staff, elected officials, and community stakeholders
Must be on-site in an HMC studio a minimum of 3 days per week

Responsibilities

Procure and manage an average of $4M of gross project revenue annually and achieve an average of $5.3M in new contracts per year through repeat public-sector clients and new civic or community-focused pursuits
Serve as the primary proponent on project pursuits, establishing strong relationships with public agencies, municipalities, and community organizations, and leading proposal and interview teams
Use market and client intelligence to identify civic and public-sector opportunities, support pre-positioning efforts, prepare qualifications and proposals, and participate in interviews
Generate new business development leads through outreach to public agencies, local governments, and community stakeholders
Lead Go/No-Go decisions for civic and public-sector pursuits
Successfully win competitive projects and transition project oversight to Project Management staff while maintaining executive involvement
Work with existing public-sector and institutional clients to identify upcoming architectural and facility needs
Ensure that additional services requested by clients or agencies are scoped, billed, and invoiced appropriately
Maintain an appropriate backlog of work to support studio viability and staffing
Develop and maintain a strong network of current and past clients, agency leaders, and industry partners
Maintain strong relationships with existing clients and ensure satisfaction with HMCs services
Attend conferences, public meetings, community events, and industry forums to grow HMCs presence in civic markets
Market HMC capabilities through public presentations, panels, and professional publications
Direct overall verbal and graphic communication of complex project concepts to clients, public agencies, and project teams; serve as the primary point of contact for client and agency issues
Write and respond to RFPs and RFQs; negotiate contracts and fees with clients and consultants
Write articles and thought leadership pieces for architecture, planning, and public-sector publications
Develop project marketing and interview materials and participate in marketing interviews
Resolve lost-opportunity issues, including staffing adjustments, contractual reviews, and scope evaluations
Represent HMC within the industry and in the broader community
Demonstrate and promote the values and culture of HMC; serve as a firm advocate both internally and externally; foster a collaborative, community-oriented environment
Drive accountability across the studio in adherence to HMC technical standards, quality protocols, and public-sector best practices
Supervise and manage multiple civic and community-focused projects through all phases
Direct and coordinate project work with team members, consultants, and public agencies
Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to staff, particularly related to technical proficiency and public-sector project delivery
Monitor performance and take appropriate action to reinforce accountability and professional development
Establish effective working relationships with practice leadership, clients, team members, consultants, and government agencies
Clearly and professionally delegate assignments to staff, consultants, and vendors
Make informed, timely decisions and communicate rationale effectively to stakeholders
Resolve issues related to project teams, consultants, and agency coordination
Collaborate with other studio leaders to support unified leadership and firmwide initiatives
Communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of settings, including public meetings and agency reviews
Ensure integration and consistency of technical resources from pursuit through project completion
Set goals, prioritize work, and manage time efficiently for self and teams
Prepare and direct work plans and schedules in coordination with Project Managers and other Principals
Ensure all HMC procedures, standards, and protocols are followed
Oversee and manage all aspects of the project management cycle for civic, municipal, and community-based projects
Monitor staffing plans and projected workloads to meet public-sector schedules, budgets, and performance expectations
Supervise and manage multiple project teams through all phases of work
Review and assist staff in setting budgets, goals, and work plans; take corrective action as needed
Achieve gross profit targets on projects under direct responsibility
Coordinate with accounting on invoicing, collections, and resolution of financial issues with clients and agencies
Review and edit project specifications as needed
Adjust staffing to ensure appropriate resource allocation
Ensure compliance with all HMC quality standards and procedures
Support design intent and quality across all projects
Ensure documents are reviewed for quality, coordination, and compliance with agency and client standards
Review cost estimates and support value analysis
Resolve plan check, permitting, and approval issues with reviewing agencies
Ensure materials and systems meet HMC standards, client expectations, and budget constraints
Oversee and resolve issues during construction for all projects under supervision
Sign and approve drawings in accordance with HMC policies, if licensed
Participate in design charrettes, critiques, and pin-ups