Job Overview
The Senior Architect is an experienced architectural leader responsible for leading complex projects and supporting the growth of WalterFedy’s Private Markets sector in Ontario. The role is focused primarily on developer-driven work across the province, including residential, affordable housing, spec industrial, and long-term care.
The ideal candidate brings strong architectural expertise, sound project leadership, and a deep understanding of the development and delivery process. They will lead project teams through all phases of design and documentation, collaborate closely with clients and consultants, and help deliver high-quality, commercially successful projects.
Beyond project delivery, the Senior Architect will play an important role in developing our people, strengthening client relationships, supporting business development as required, and contributing to the continued growth of the Private Markets sector. This position is well suited to an architect who wants to combine strong design and technical skills with project leadership, client engagement, and broader sector involvement.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Architectural Design and Planning:
- Lead the development and delivery of architectural designs for complex projects, balancing design quality, client objectives, project requirements, budget, schedule, constructability, and applicable codes/standards.
- Manage and oversee multiple projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with project objectives and client expectations.
- Apply advanced architectural knowledge and professional judgment to develop innovative, practical, and commercially viable design solutions.
- Lead design development from concept through construction documentation and implementation, ensuring continuity of design intent throughout the project lifecycle.
- Drive design excellence by challenging established approaches, identifying opportunities for improvement, and contributing to the development of design standards and best practices.
- Consider development feasibility, approvals, cost, schedule, and market objectives when developing architectural solutions, particularly within developer-driven projects.
- Client and Stakeholder Engagement:
- Serve as a senior point of contact for clients, developers, and other stakeholders, understanding their objectives, communicating design solutions, and building strong, long-term relationships.
- Develop a strong understanding of client and project objectives and translate them into clear architectural and project strategies.
- Investigate and resolve design and field issues, coordinating with contractors, suppliers, consultants, and other stakeholders to ensure project requirements are met.
- Lead interdisciplinary coordination with architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders to integrate building systems and deliver cohesive project solutions.
- Lead project meetings, workshops, presentations, and client discussions, communicating complex information clearly and effectively.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen existing client relationships and support the development of new client and industry relationships.
- Project Management and Delivery:
- Lead or support project planning and execution to achieve established budget, schedule, scope, quality, and performance objectives.
- Manage project budgets, schedules, resources, and deliverables, identifying risks and taking appropriate action to maintain project performance.
- Lead or support the preparation, negotiation, and administration of client and consultant contracts, scopes, fees, and project changes.
- Perform and oversee technical analyses, code reviews, and other technical investigations required to support project decisions and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
- Prepare and present project updates and progress reports to clients, project teams, and senior leadership, identifying issues, risks, and recommended actions.
- Review project costs, design changes, and consultant deliverables and provide recommendations to support informed project and client decisions.
- Uphold WalterFedy's quality control processes and lead quality reviews of architectural design and documentation.
- Problem Solving and Innovation:
- Address complex design, technical, and project delivery challenges using sound professional judgment, initiative, and creativity.
- Identify practical solutions that balance design excellence with client objectives, project budgets, schedules, constructability, and regulatory requirements.
- Stay current with emerging industry trends, technologies, materials, regulations, and best practices and apply relevant advancements to projects.
- Advocate for innovative and sustainable design opportunities and lead their implementation where they provide meaningful value to the client and project.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of WalterFedy's design processes, standards, tools, and project delivery practices.
- Leadership and Team Guidance:
- Lead multidisciplinary project teams, establishing clear objectives, roles, responsibilities, and expectations to support successful project delivery.
- Mentor and support junior and intermediate staff, providing guidance, feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team environment across architectural and engineering disciplines.
- Support the development of emerging architectural leaders and contribute to building the firm's future project and sector leadership capacity.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to WalterFedy's values of quality, client focus, teamwork, sustainability, and community in daily work and interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
- Business Development
- Contribute to the growth and strategic development of WalterFedy's Private Markets sector, with a focus on developer-driven opportunities across residential, affordable housing, industrial, and long-term care.
- Support business development activities including pursuits, proposals, presentations, client meetings, fee and scope discussions, and project negotiations.
- Identify new opportunities and contribute to the expansion of existing client relationships and strategic industry partnerships.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with developers, owners, consultants, contractors, and other industry stakeholders.
- Bring project experience, market knowledge, and client insight to support sector strategy, market positioning, and future growth opportunities.
- Represent WalterFedy and the Private Markets sector at industry events, client meetings, and other external engagements.
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture from an accredited institution.
- Registered Architect with OAA, AAA, or similar, depending on province of practice.
- 7+ years of progressive experience in architectural design and project leadership, with a proven track record of successfully delivering complex projects.
- Proficiency in industry standard architectural, BIM, and visualization software. Advanced skills in 3D modeling and rendering software preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to apply advanced architectural knowledge to develop innovative design solutions and resolve complex design challenges.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present ideas, negotiate contracts, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong project management skills, including budgeting, scheduling, and resource management. Experience in contract negotiation and administration.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to lead project teams, mentor junior staff, and inspire collaboration across disciplines.
- Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of sustainable design principles and LEED certification processes.
- Experience working with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated design solutions.