Definition of architectural positions

Architecture firm positions

The AIA Compensation & Benefits Report is the industry’s most comprehensive resource on salary and compensation trends. Excerpted here from the 2023 report are position descriptions for the surveyed management, architect/designer/intern, other design professionals, and financial/administrative/technical positions in architecture firms. These are descriptive positions at architecture firms for classification and salary reporting purposes and are not intended to be recommended as specific titles for unlicensed staff working at architecture firms. Please check with your licensing board for title restrictions.

Management

CEO/President: Licensed architect who manages and directs the organization toward its objectives, establishes direction and long-range plans, plans/directs mergers and acquisitions, and serves as face of the organization. Has primary responsibility for the firm’s profitability and growth by managing and directing the organization toward its primary objectives. Establishes the firm’s direction, long-range plans, strategy, and policy. Dispenses advice, guidance, direction, and authorization to carry out major plans, standards, and procedures.

Oversees the adequacy and soundness of the organization’s financial structure. Reviews the organization’s operating results, compares these with established objectives, and takes steps to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to correct unsatisfactory results. Plans and directs all investigations and negotiations pertaining to mergers, joint ventures, acquisition of businesses, or sale of major assets. Establishes and maintains an effective system of communications throughout the organization. Represents the organization with major customers, shareholders, the financial community, and the public.

Managing Principal: Licensed architect or other licensed design professional with direct oversight for a market sector, discipline, department, or office who establishes and implements goals and objectives, develops and promotes the firm’s values and long-range plans, positions the firm for growth, and ensures profitability.

Responsible for establishing overall goals and objectives and coordinating implementation plans. In conjunction with other senior leaders, is responsible for the realization of profits compatible with the interests of clients and the firm. Develops and promotes the firm’s vision, mission, core values, and long-range plans. Oversees and controls operations and activities to promote the achievement of the firm’s objectives. Implements policies established by the board. Participates in creating and positioning the firm to take advantage of opportunities for growth and marketplace expansion. Ensures profitability, quality enhancement, and professional development. May be responsible for some of the tasks of the director of human resources at small to mid-size firms.

Chief Operating Officer: Responsible for the company’s day-to-day operating activities, including revenue and sales growth; expense, cost, and margin control; and monthly, quarterly, and annual financial goal management. Generally, an MBA or a licensed professional with significant experience in operations.

Director of Operations: Licensure preferred but not required; develops and monitors quality and production standards for projects. Directs and monitors project team members and ensures high productivity. May be responsible for some of the tasks of the director of human resources (see description below) at small to mid-size firms.

Responsible for developing uniformly high production standards and monitoring projects to ensure that quality and production standards are met for all design and contract documents. Must be thoroughly familiar with the entire architectural process and should possess the managerial capability to lead and direct activities of all project-team personnel while monitoring technical production on all projects to ensure adherence to quality standards at high productivity.

Director of Design: Licensed architect with a thorough knowledge of architecture practice who develops firm wide design standards and may supervise the design department. Oversees design presentations, monitors project design development, and provides design direction and support to ensure consistent and high-quality design firmwide. Must possess a thorough knowledge of architecture practice with emphasis on design, building materials, construction methods, integration of engineering disciplines, and building costs/codes.

Director of Finance (CFO): Responsible for overseeing and coordinating the full firmwide range of financial operations by ensuring that they function effectively and efficiently and according to policies established by the board and under the direction of the CEO. Directs the firm’s treasury, budgeting, audit, tax, accounting, purchasing, real estate, benefit programs, and insurance activities. Supports the CEO and the firm’s continued success by ensuring that all financial operations function effectively and efficiently. Provides financial leadership, vision, and direction to managers responsible for financial activities within the firm.

Director of Human Resources: Most senior position on the HR team. Responsible for leading the team of day-to-day HR practitioners, including but not limited to recruitment, compensation, benefits, and employee relations. Ensures that HR policies and practices are adhered to and aligned with firm values and organizational objectives.

Chief Marketing Officer: Responsible for business development strategy, marketing, branding, communications, and public relations infrastructure, positioning the firm for growth and profitability.

Architects/designers/emerging professionals

Senior Project Designer: Ten or more years of professional experience, licensure preferred but not required, professional degree in architecture from an accredited program.

Creates project designs and plans for all phases of projects and coordinates building design consultants while monitoring drawings. Develops solutions and creates project designs and plans. Initiates and creates project designs and plans for all phases of one or more projects and has responsibility for preparing presentations and design drawings. Coordinates all trades and agencies related to building design while monitoring drawings. Typically has 10 or more years of experience in all phases of architecture and engineering, including substantial and varied experience in project planning.

Project Designer: Five to 10 years of professional experience, licensure preferred but not required, professional degree in architecture from an accredited program.

Works independently on architectural design projects and often coordinates project design efforts. Develops planning and creative design concepts for projects. Prepares presentation and design drawings and details. Requires substantial experience, five to 10 years in developing details, and providing planning and design support in the preparation of design development.

Senior Project Manager: Ten or more years of professional experience, professional degree in architecture from an accredited program, licensure preferred but not required.

Coordinates all project efforts in order to ensure effective execution, prepares strategic plans, and serves as primary client liaison. Estimates scope of work and oversees less experienced project managers. Handles the most complex projects of the largest magnitude. Responsible for coordination of all project efforts, administrative and technical, to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective execution of assigned projects. Prepares strategic plans for project success. Serves as the primary liaison contact with clients to complete projects on schedule, within budget, and with maximum client satisfaction. Actively manages client budgets, schedules, and programs; project communications and documentation; office administrative tasks; and project team assignments. Estimates fees, determines the scope of work, and prepares proposals and contracts on the most complex projects. Provides oversight and monitoring of the work of less experienced project managers. May act in a team leader capacity in the absence of the manager.

Project Manager: Eight or more years of professional experience, professional degree in architecture from an accredited program, licensure preferred but not required.

Manages multiple small/medium projects, coordinates all aspects of assigned projects, and estimates scope of work. Has full responsibility for managing all aspects of multiple small to midsize projects.

Prepares strategic plans for project success. Responsible for the coordination of all project efforts, administrative and technical, to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective execution of assigned projects. Serves as the primary client liaison to bring the schedule, budgets, and scope of work to completion and to the client’s satisfaction. Actively manages client budgets, schedules, and programs; project communications and documentation; office administrative tasks; and project team assignments. Estimates fees, determines scope of work, and prepares proposals and contracts.

Senior Architect: Over 10 years of professional experience and certification as a licensed professional required.

Professional degree in architecture, plus 10 years minimum of related experience. Can be relied upon to present directly to the client on technical and design solutions. Works closely with the project manager to execute project plans. Coordinates with a project manager to directly supervise the teams’ design and technical delivery.

Senior Architectural Staff (non-licensed): Over 10 years of professional experience and professional degree in architecture required.

Can be relied upon to present directly to the client on technical and design solutions. Works closely with the project manager to execute project plans. Coordinates with project manager to directly supervise the teams’ design and technical delivery.

Medical planner: At least five years of professional experience. Licensure preferred but not required.

Responsible for leading the medical planning effort toward the successful completion of complex health care facilities; provides overall programming, master planning, design, and medical planning; communicates with clients/user groups to understand project requirements. Assists in developing project scope, plan, and services during the contract process. Translates planning concepts into comprehensible terms for clients, designers, and project team members.

Architect level III: Eight or more years of professional experience and certification as a licensed professional required.

Professional degree in architecture, plus at least eight years of related experience. Participates in the conceptual design and provides full support throughout the entire project. Serves as an SME on specialized systems. Liaises with project management, other architects, and consultants. Develops and represents lead technical viewpoint on projects. Coordinates with the director and department head on appropriate technical solutions and product strategies. Project size differentiates this position from the senior level.

Architectural staff level III (non-licensed): Eight or more years of professional experience and professional degree in architecture required.

Participates in the conceptual design and provides full support throughout the entire project. Serves as an SME on specialized systems. Liaises with project management, other architects/architectural staff, and consultants. Develops and represents lead technical viewpoint on projects. Coordinates with the director and department head on appropriate technical solutions and product strategies. Project size differentiates this position from the senior level.

Architect level II: Six or more years of professional experience and certification as a licensed professional required.

Professional degree in architecture, plus at least six years of related experience. Responsible for specific technical design aspects of an assigned major project, including investigation, evaluation, and recommendation of design solutions that best meet the client’s needs. Provides professional architectural consultation in the planning, design, and coordination of large complex projects. Independently applies advanced architectural concepts and designs. Carries out complex or novel assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures. May provide technical guidance to less experienced architects.

Architectural staff level II (non-licensed): Six or more years of professional experience and professional degree in architecture required.

Responsible for specific technical design aspects of an assigned major project, including investigation, evaluation, and recommendation of design solutions that best meet the client’s needs. Provides professional architectural consultation in the planning, design, and coordination of large complex projects. Independently applies advanced architectural concepts and designs. Carries out complex or novel assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures. May provide technical guidance to less experienced architects/architectural staff.

Architect level I: Three to five years of professional experience and certification as a licensed professional required.

Professional degree in architecture, plus three to five years of related experience. Fully competent architect in all conventional aspects of architecture. Independently performs a variety of assignments requiring skills in all conventional aspects of architectural designs for projects of moderate size and complexity. Performs analyses of design, planning, and occupancy studies, and limited design layouts. Prepares project specifications, compiling and analyzing relevant data. Writes reports and specifications. Reviews completed reports, plans, estimates, and calculations.

Architectural staff level I (non-licensed): Three to five years of professional experience and professional degree in architecture required.

Fully competent in all conventional aspects of architecture. Independently performs a variety of assignments requiring skills in all conventional aspects of architectural designs for projects of moderate size and complexity. Performs analyses of design, planning, and occupancy studies, and limited design layouts. Prepares project specifications, compiling and analyzing relevant data. Writes reports and specifications. Reviews completed reports, plans, estimates, and calculations.

Recent College Graduate (Non-licensed): Zero to three years of professional experience and professional degree in architecture required.

Full-time, entry-level professional performing basic architectural assignments. Undertakes a variety of assignments requiring the application of standard architectural techniques for small projects or selected segments of a larger project. Performs design layouts and features, which require researching, compiling, and recording information for assigned project work.

Other design professionals

Director of sustainability: Ten or more years of professional experience. Licensure preferred but not required.

Has a thorough knowledge of sustainable design and architecture practice; responsible for developing firmwide sustainable design standards and initiatives. Oversees presentations, monitors project design development, and provides sustainable design direction and support to ensure consistent and high-quality sustainability integration firmwide. Must possess a thorough knowledge of sustainable design and practice with emphasis on integrated design, green building rating systems, building materials, energy and carbon, integration of all disciplines, and building costs/codes.

Sustainability manager: Five to 10 years of professional experience.

Leads or assists with firmwide sustainability efforts and initiatives; advises project teams on integration of sustainable design strategies. Manages and coordinates third-party green building rating systems certification efforts such as LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Living Building Challenge, etc. Assists in energy performance data reporting of projects.

Senior interior designer: Over 10 years of professional experience required and bachelor’s degree in interior design recommended. Certification as a licensed professional is preferred but not required.

Manages projects of all sizes and levels of complexity and provides project team leadership. Responsible for schematic design work. Participates in the design control of projects in the design development, construction document, and supervision phases. Provides direction to lower-level interior designers. Responsible for project budget management and cost control.

Interior designer level III: Eight or more years of professional experience and bachelor’s degree in interior design required. Certification as a licensed professional is preferred but not required.

Participates in the conceptual design and provides full support throughout the entire project. Liaises with the project manager, architects, and consultants. Develops and represents lead technical viewpoint on projects. Coordinates with the director and department head on appropriate technical solutions and product strategies. Project size differentiates this position from the senior level.

Interior designer level II: Six or more years of professional experience and bachelor’s degree in interior design required. Certification as a licensed professional is preferred but not required.

Generates all architectural concepts for interiors projects, including full responsibility for interpreting, organizing, executing, and coordinating interior design assignments. Plans and designs interior aspects of large or multiple projects by developing appropriate concepts and approaches. Provides subject matter expertise on specific components of interior design.

Interior designer level I: Three or more years of professional experience and bachelor’s degree in interior design required. Certification as a licensed professional is preferred but not required.

Generates architectural concepts for interiors projects, including material, such as furniture and equipment planning, special design concepts and requirements, floor plan analysis, condition of building site, personal property, integrated structural components, and mechanical and electrical and visual design concepts. Responsible for carrying out these design assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques or design. Normally works on the project to middle point of construction work, then follows up with construction team. Works with a senior-level designer on more complex projects.

Entry-level interior design associate: Less than three years of professional experience.

Assists senior designers with development of design solutions, researches and selects colors/finishes/materials, performs site surveys, maintains resource materials. Works under the  direction of mid- to senior-level interior designers. Researches interiors products and applies established interior design standards. Assists senior-level designers in the development of design solutions for review. Performs routine checking and/or verification tasks. Researches and selects colors/finishes/materials. Supports business development activities through assistance with aids such as finish boards or PowerPoint presentations. Performs site survey and documentation. Maintains resource materials. Is learning computer-aided drawing, presentation tools, and basic office software. Has exposure to interior design specifications, calculations, and industry standards.

Senior landscape architect: Ten or more years of professional experience and license in landscape architecture required.

Licensed landscape architect responsible for complex project delivery, leads teams, provides mentorship and training, and may manage client relationships. Performs landscape design on projects, establishes general requirements, assesses site potential, and performs environmental impact studies. Responsible for the landscape design of one or more projects. Provides the design and delivery on a variety of projects. Establishes general landscape requirements. Conducts preliminary site studies. Assesses sites’ potential to meet client specifications. Carries out environmental impact studies.

Landscape architect: Five to 10 years of professional experience and license in landscape architecture required.

Performs landscape design on projects, establishes general requirements, assesses site potential, and performs environmental impact studies. Responsible for the landscape design of one or more projects. Provides the design and delivery on a variety of projects. Establishes general landscape requirements. Conducts preliminary site studies. Assesses sites’ potential to meet client specifications. Carries out environmental impact studies.

Senior planner: Ten or more years of professional experience.

Manages client relationship and multidisciplinary teams, may supervise staff, and provides training and mentoring. Performs urban design, site planning, and other planning studies and programs. Provides technical assistance on topics related to planning/zoning/environmental concerns, attends planning commission meetings, and regularly meets with government publications. Provides technical assistance in areas regarding planning, zoning, environmental concerns, and other matters that relate to overall planning.

Planner: Five to 10 years of professional experience.

Performs urban design, site planning, and other planning studies and programs. Provides technical assistance on topics related to planning/zoning/environmental concerns, attends planning commission meetings, and regularly meets with government publications.

Specifications writer: Five to 10 years of professional experience. Licensed architect preferred.

Reviews drawings and other project information to write and edit project specifications. Uses thorough understanding of project design requirements to translate project needs for specific materials, equipment, installation, certifications, testing, and methods applicable to the project. Performs product research, assists in material selection, develops and maintains relationships with vendors, performs quality management reviews, and provides technical advice to project teams.

Design technology manager: Professional degree in architecture, engineering, or construction disciplines is preferred but not required.

Coordinates all BIM/digital design logistics (e.g., contracts, emails, file sharing). Creates and maintains models for project-specific requirements. Receives and manages multiple subcontractor models. Communicates conflicts in models, both real and potential.

Design technology specialist II: Eight or more years of professional experience.

Interacts with external vendors; mentors and trains staff; provides proactive team support, including technology quality review; may manage staff; and may be involved in research and development. Works as part of a digital design/BIM team to achieve consistent results. Provides support for project kick-off information and the creation of initial project setup with workflow documents. Supports daily model management administration and maintenance. Supports and contributes to the creation of content and supports the integration of digital design technology products with other applications. Contributes to the development and implementation of design technology systems. May also perform hardware testing.

Design technology specialist I: Three to eight years of professional experience.

Works as part of a digital design/BIM team to achieve consistent results. Provides support for project kick-off information and the creation of initial project setup with workflow documents. Supports daily model management administration and maintenance. Supports and contributes to the creation of content and supports the integration of digital design technology products with other applications. Contributes to the development and implementation of design technology systems. May also perform hardware testing.

Financial, administrative, & technical

Business/administrative manager: Responsible for managing a variety of office administrative support activities (e.g., human resources, purchasing, facilities, maintenance, leasing, clerical support); may coordinate accounting functions in small firms. Serves as primary management liaison for administrative issues. Identifies department and office process inefficiencies and makes recommendations for solutions. In smaller firms, they may also serve as an accounting manager in coordinating or doing all accounting functions. May also fulfill some of the duties described in the human resources generalist position at small to mid-size firms.

Accountant: Responsible for moderately complex analysis. Compiles, consolidates, and analyzes various accounting and finance information. Brings inconsistencies, problems, and recommendations to the manager’s attention. Responsible for the timely completion of the weekly and monthly closing process. Posts and reviews account activity and determines what journal adjustments need to be recorded on a weekly/monthly/annual basis to ensure that the financial statements fairly present the results of operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Maintains updated balance sheets, account reconciliations, and an effective internal control environment. May also serve as the controller in small to mid-size firms.

Marketing manager: Manages marketing staff and functions in support of the firm’s long-range goals. Provides market research, marketing training, system and procedure development, business development support, public relations, and proposal development. Ensures that schedules are met and various aspects of proposals are accurate and delivered in a timely manner.

Marketing coordinator: Develops and maintains marketing systems/records and coordinates the marketing team. Produces proposals by coordinating proposal/presentation preparation, including scheduling project milestones and reviews, and working with project managers to ensure that quality material is submitted and delivered. Edits, coordinates, and helps write proposals, brochures, and other sales/public relations material.

Business development manager: Directs and coordinates the firm’s business development efforts. Develops, implements, and maintains effective sales and other programs that provide maximum exposure to new business prospects within the firm’s established goals and objectives. Develops and implements promotional programs and plans; cultivates and develops potential business prospects; prepares proposals, presentations, and qualification packages.

Systems/information technology manager: Develops and implements internal management information systems, establishes policies for systems use, and develops standards for document production.

Graphic designer: Responsible for print, multimedia, web, and/or environmental graphic design. Creates design and layout, and coordinates production of various materials. Creates detailed project charts and graphs for clients. Provides detailed cost estimates for all printed graphics.

Human resources generalist: Bachelor’s degree in human resources (HR) or business administration or related field recommended.

Provides HR consultative skills, and assists employees and management in all HR aspects, including employee relations, investigations, and interpreting company policies and practices. Develops positive working relationships and business partnerships with key stakeholders in the business unit. Analyzes HR data to identify trends, and reports findings to senior HR and business management. 

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