The Bainbridge Island studio is seeking a Managing Principal with 20+ years of experience who thrives in a collaborative leadership environment, values mentorship, and is committed to advancing both project excellence and studio culture.
This role is ideal for a leader with demonstrated success in driving business development efforts and a deep understanding of sustainable design, including regenerative principles and decarbonization strategies. The ideal candidate brings strong client relationships, a passion for design excellence, and the ability to translate business opportunities into successful, mission-driven projects.
The Managing Principal plays a key role—alongside the Managing Director, Design Principal, Project Manager, and broader studio team—in strategically directing project and business outcomes. Success is measured by design and technical excellence, team and client satisfaction, financial performance, and the integration of the firm’s values, including equity and sustainability.
A Managing Principal may serve as day-to-day client contact or partner closely with the Design or Project Management leadership depending on project needs.
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Develop and deliver project strategy in collaboration with Design Principal, Project Manager, and technical leaders—ensuring integration of research, Living Design, and JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) principles.
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In partnership with the Managing Director, provide leadership in sustainable and regenerative design, advancing firm goals around decarbonization, climate-positive design, and ecological performance.
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Champion and apply the firm’s Deep Green ethos across projects and studio operations—mentoring staff and identifying opportunities to elevate sustainability impact.
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Actively lead business development efforts, including identifying new opportunities, cultivating client relationships, and pursuing strategic partnerships in alignment with the firm’s mission and values.
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Collaborate with the Managing Director, Marketing, practice leaders, and firmwide partners to shape pursuit strategies, participate in interviews, and secure new work across sectors and disciplines.
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Maintain an active presence in the market—representing the studio and firm externally through speaking engagements, client presentations, conferences, and professional organizations.
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Guide and oversee project execution across all phases—ensuring schedule, budget, quality, and performance goals are met.
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Monitor and manage project financials and compliance with the work plan in concert with the Project Manager, Operations Director, and local finance team.
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Lead invoicing and collections efforts and proactively manage scope, fees, and client communication throughout project life cycles.
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Identify and mitigate project risks—bringing forward potential concerns to the studio’s MOD leadership and firmwide legal as needed.
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Mentor and develop project teams—celebrating successes, fostering growth, and ensuring effective collaboration.
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Support staffing strategy and resourcing discussions with Operations Director and Project Manager(s).
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Foster strong communication and coordination across teams and disciplines, internally and with clients and consultants.
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Ensure accountability for project profitability, quality of service, and resolution of client issues or conflicts.
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Support the firm’s strategic initiatives and culture through active engagement in firmwide committees, initiatives, and campaigns.
Proficiencies
- Considerable knowledge and experience leading and managing successful projects, client relationships and teams at various scales
- Strong commitment to design excellence, innovation, high quality design and personalized client services including relationship management, problem-solving, decision making, and collaboration
- Ability to influence clients, business partners, and project teams in a professional and compelling way
- Excellent communicator, with intellectual curiosity and strategic thinking
Software
- Deltek/Vision
- PMTK (Project Management Tool Kit) and other relevant Hub platforms
- Knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Licensure/Certifications/Education
- LEED GA within 6 months of hire
- Professional Accreditation in one area of Living Design that interests you: LEED AP with Specialty, BREEAM AP, WELL AP, SITES AP, Passive House Institute Certified Passive House Consultant/Designer CPHC/CPHD, or ILFI Living Future Accreditation
- Architectural license, NCIDQ preferred or LARE as appropriate
- Professional Degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or another design-related field
Qualified and interested candidates should submit a resume and work samples. Include your resume and a compact, representative sample of your work (no larger than 6MB). Please submit your files in pdf.
Salary Range Information
We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, and competitive and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions include but are not limited to a candidate’s qualifications including skill sets, education, experience and training, licensure and certifications credentials if applicable, and business-related factors. This practice extends to all employees, including performance considerations for merit increases, job promotions, and transfer opportunities. We additionally review our pay practices, conduct pay equity audits, and ensure our managers are trained in our pay practices on an annual basis. At the time of posting this job advertisement, commensurate with qualifications, the annual pay salary range for this position is between $165,000 and $195,000 dependent upon experience.
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
At Perkins&Will we believe that inclusion spurs creativity and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people + ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status; we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve.
"Design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community."
