Managing Director – Miami Studio
Location: Miami, FL
Status: Confidential Succession Leadership Opportunity
About the Firm (Confidential)
Our client is a globally recognized architecture and design practice celebrated for its commitment to design excellence, research-driven innovation, and purpose-led work across nearly every building sector. With a legacy of shaping meaningful, resilient places, the firm operates as a deeply collaborative network of studios — each with the freedom to express its regional identity while contributing to a shared national and global vision.
The Miami studio represents one of the firm’s most dynamic and diverse offices, with work spanning corporate commercial, mixed-use, healthcare, higher education, and civic markets. As part of a planned leadership transition, the firm is seeking a Managing Director to work alongside the current studio leader for a defined period before assuming full leadership in late 2026.
This rare opportunity allows for an intentional handover, ensuring a smooth and strategic transition while continuing to deliver exceptional design and strong financial performance.
The Opportunity
The Managing Director – Miami will serve as the strategic and cultural leader of the studio, responsible for overall business performance, talent development, client engagement, and design reputation in the marketplace.
This role is ideal for an established leader who has successfully managed a large architecture or design practice — someone equally comfortable leading people, managing performance, and engaging externally to drive growth.
While continuing to maintain a hands-on role with clients and projects, the Managing Director will guide the studio through its next chapter — fostering collaboration, shaping culture, and advancing a unified vision for success.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management
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Oversee all aspects of studio operations, including strategy, talent, finance, and project delivery.
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Partner with current studio leadership to ensure a seamless succession and continued alignment with national goals.
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Collaborate with design and operations leaders (MOD: Managing, Operations, and Design Directors) to balance creativity, delivery, and business performance.
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Champion a culture of trust, inclusion, and transparency, inspiring teams through clarity of purpose and example.
Business Development & Market Presence
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Lead the pursuit of strategic opportunities across key markets in the Southeast, with a focus on corporate commercial and mixed-use environments.
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Serve as a visible ambassador for the firm — representing the Miami studio in industry organizations, client forums, and public settings.
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Build and maintain high-value relationships with clients, developers, and civic partners, with the support of a seasoned marketing and BD team.
Design & Cultural Stewardship
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Advocate for design excellence, sustainability, and innovation across all projects.
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Partner closely with firmwide design leadership to strengthen the Miami studio’s reputation for progressive, high-performance design.
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Promote the firm’s “Living Design” ethos — integrating health, equity, and environmental responsibility into every project.
Financial & Operational Performance
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Ensure the studio’s financial health, managing budgets, revenue targets, and resource allocation.
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Collaborate with firm leadership (COO, CFO, CMO, CTO) and participate in national MD forums to align goals and share best practices.
Ideal Background
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15–25 years of professional experience in architecture, design, or a related field, with at least 5 years in senior studio or regional leadership.
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Proven record of studio management, team development, and financial accountability in a large multidisciplinary environment.
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Strong business development acumen, capable of driving revenue growth while nurturing long-term client relationships.
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Demonstrated ability to lead large, diverse teams with empathy, clarity, and confidence.
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A visible thought leader with a strong presence in the South Florida or broader Southeast market.
The Culture
This firm believes that design is an act of optimism — that every project is an opportunity to create beauty, foster community, and inspire positive change.
The Miami studio embodies this spirit: creative, collaborative, and globally connected yet distinctly local in its perspective. The next Managing Director will be both a steward and a catalyst — continuing a proud legacy while shaping what comes next.
What Success Looks Like
Within the first year, the incoming Managing Director will have established a strong rapport with studio and firmwide leadership, aligned strategic priorities, and begun to shape the next phase of growth. By the following fall, they will assume full directorship, leading one of the firm’s most exciting studios into its next era of innovation, influence, and impact.
