Senior Architect – Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo, Michigan
DISHER is excited to partner with a collaborative design studio on a Senior Architect based out of either their Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids studio. This studio integrates architecture, interior design, and experiential branding from the inception of every project, in order to design experiences and places that foster happiness, health, and connection, helping people live their everyday lives more fully. As a Project Architect, you will play a pivotal role in bridging creative vision and technical excellence. You’ll lead by example, mentoring others, championing collaboration, and ensuring every project benefits from diverse perspectives and expertise. We are looking for people who are a great cultural fit, are interested in learning our design theory, and have the technical skills to fulfill the role.
What It's Like to Work Here:
You’ll join a passionate community of designers, thinkers, and doers who believe one size never fits all. Here, every team member’s unique value is celebrated, and every voice is heard. The studio thrives on optimism, hospitality, and creative exploration, supporting each other to grow as professionals and as people. This is your opportunity to be part of a culture that values continuous learning, building strong partnerships, and the power of design to make a real difference, where you can shape not just projects, but the future of the studio itself.
What you will get to do:
- Collaborate from day one with a multidisciplinary team of interior designers, architects, and graphic designers, ensuring every project benefits from diverse perspectives and expertise.
- Engage directly with clients and team members to design with people, not just for them, creating spaces that foster happiness, health, and connection.
- Organize and inspire the team to produce high-quality, effective design and construction documents, leveraging each member’s unique strengths.
- Lead the technical development of projects, translating creative vision into detailed, buildable solutions through comprehensive drawings and specifications.
- Communicate the “why” behind design decisions, fostering understanding and buy-in from both team members and project stakeholders.
- Develop and refine studio processes, standards, and templates to support quality and efficiency across all projects.
- Mentor and teach others, helping team members grow their technical skills and understanding of how buildings come together.
- Participate in a collaborative studio environment where every project is approached as a unique opportunity.
- Contribute to a culture of optimism, hospitality, and creative exploration, supporting the studio’s core values in every interaction.
What will make you successful:
- 8+ years of related architectural experience.
- Professional degree in Architecture.
- Licensure preferred, or on track to take licensure exams.
- Experience preparing project specifications; familiarity with Deltek Spec Point or Masterspec is a plus.
- Comprehensive understanding of how buildings go together and the ability to communicate that knowledge graphically through detailed plans, sections, and construction details.
- Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, and other design software, with a passion for leveraging technology to improve outcomes.
- Strong technical knowledge of building systems, materials, and construction methods, with experience leading documentation teams and coordinating with consultants.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts and the rationale behind design decisions.
- Commitment to continuous learning and improvement, both personally and for the team, especially in technical skills and professional growth.
- Collaborative mindset, willingness to work across disciplines and embrace the unique value each team member brings.
- Curiosity and openness to learning and applying the studio’s human-centered design philosophy.
- Ability to check your ego at the door, listen deeply to clients and colleagues, and build authentic relationships based on trust and respect.
- Excitement about the intersection of technical expertise and human-centered design, seeing yourself as a bridge between vision and reality.
- Eagerness to teach and develop processes that make the entire team stronger and more effective.
