Director of Architecture

Job Summary

The Director of Architecture is a uniquely positioned senior-level opportunity responsible for providing vision, organizational strategy, and focus for advancing strategic architectural and campus planning initiatives, as well as architectural renovations and annual R&R projects for Purdue University, an R1 public land-grant research university. 

With a new President beginning his term, a transformative development in Purdue's presence in Indianapolis, and the momentum from a decade of unprecedented success, this is an exciting time in the history of the University and the College. Purdue's Next Moves recently announced $1.3 billion investments in Purdue University facilities for students and faculty. This will be one of President Chiang's five strategic initiatives, presenting an exciting opportunity for this role.

This hybrid position will manage a team of professional architecture staff, including an interior designer, registered architects, and lead architects. This position provides design oversight for the Purdue West Lafayette campus, supports research at Purdue, and is currently underway on building the new, urban campus in Indianapolis. The impact that this position has on the planning and design of the Purdue campuses  in regards to how buildings will fit into campus along with the aesthetic will be felt for years, demonstrating the transformative nature of this position. Administrative Operations is the largest staff organization at Purdue and encompasses the departments that work on the master plan for the University to the design and construction of shaping campus life.

This position will lead the architectural initiative for campus projects with interdisciplinary teams of consultants, academic stakeholders, and administrative operations stakeholders and work directly with the Senior Director of Campus Planning, Architecture, and Sustainability (CPAS) and University Architect as the primary representative on the development and implementation of campus architecture, building feasibility studies, architectural renovations, and interior/facility planning. 

What you will be doing:

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides technical support in design and construction projects regarding aesthetics, design intent, concept design, standard/guideline compliance, evaluation of design options, and strategic phasing plans
• Manages implementation of a wide array of architectural planning initiatives, building feasibility studies, and building renovations
• Collaborates with campus stakeholders to prioritize initiatives, achieve strategic, multidimensional solutions to complex campus planning issues, and communicate outcomes to senior leadership
• Provides design oversight of consultant teams

Building Feasibility and Programming Studies:

• Advises the Senior Director of CPAS on campus architecture, campus aesthetics, building renovations, and programming-related matters

Communication and Collaboration:

• Working with Physical Facilities Communications oversees a multifaceted communications strategy for all architectural planning activities
• Collaborates with campus stakeholders across academic clients and administrative operations to develop and implement building plans, feasibility studies, and facilities programming initiatives by building relationships with campus constituents, building consensus, finding common ground, and managing obstacles

Manages Professional Architectural Staff:

• Manages annual budget and schedule of architectural initiatives and staffing
• Works effectively with people from different viewpoints and backgrounds
• Recognizes the advantages that diversity can bring to the campus and individual project solutions
• Applies the University's Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity policy and contributes toward achieving unit goals

What you must have :

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture and Licensed Architect in Indiana or able to obtain Indiana licensure within 6 months related field.

Experience:

• Eight or more years of experience required in architectural design, programming, and technical support
• Registration as a Professional Architect is required (Indiana registration is required within six months of hire)
• Subject matter expert on issues of architectural design for new buildings and renovations
• Experience managing initiatives that support the implementation of short- and long-term strategic goals within a complex, matrixed organization
• Project management experience should include coordination, running meetings, developing meeting minutes/notes, and multiple forms of communication.

Preferred: 

• LEED Accredited Professional credential 
• Experience working in a higher education context 
• Understanding/knowledge of laboratory design.