Project Architect
Job Description
Designing and building the world’s most inspired, comfortable, healthy, durable, and sustainable buildings requires creativity, craftsmanship, innovation, and commitment. Kala uniquely integrates architecture, design, building envelope construction, finish carpentry, and other key disciplines into a unified team fully committed to redefining how the built environment can positively impact our world.
A key member of the Kala team is a Project Architect who thrives at the intersection of design excellence and technical execution and plays a pivotal role in the successful delivery of high-quality, high-performance architectural projects. This position leads the construction documentation, permitting, and construction administration phases while supporting excellence through design creativity & insights, technical rigor, and strategic leadership.
You will collaborate across disciplines to deliver high-performance projects from concept to completion, contribute to work that inspires in function and in form, take on leadership opportunities within Kala and across the industry, continuously grow your expertise through hands-on experience and professional development, and be part of a company with a clear mission and relentless dedication to excellence.
Kala will ensure you are certified in high-performance building techniques and materials and receive the continuing education required to maintain passive house credentials. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to help shape the future of our built world — we’d love to hear from you.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development of construction documents and oversee permitting and approvals
- Translate design intent into technically sound, buildable solutions
- Work hand-in-hand with the design team to continuously bring forward ideas, insights, and solutions that elevate each project
- Coordinate with consultants, engineers, and in-house teams to produce cohesive project documentation
- Provide leadership in work planning, team resourcing, and contract administration to support on-time and on-budget project delivery
- Ensure all documentation meets applicable building codes and regulatory standards. Guide the project through the permitting processes, ensuring timely approvals for project delivery
- Work closely with our build team to integrate estimating, constructability reviews, and procurement planning
- Manage construction administration—including staffing, issue resolution, and process oversight. Ensure code compliance and guide projects through the permitting process
- Mentor junior staff and contribute to team planning and project resourcing
- Champion tools, systems, and workflows that improve quality and efficiency
- Assist in recruiting and networking efforts to attract top-tier talent committed to design and client excellence
- Participate in shaping company direction by contributing to strategic decisions affecting growth and market positioning
- Research and implement tools and processes to enhance design quality, project efficiency, and performance outcomes
Requirements
- Possess a deep passion for sustainable, healthy, and carbon-smart building practices
- 8+ years of architectural experience with a focus on technical delivery
- Deep interest in design and skill set for advancing design through collaboration, charrettes, sketching, modeling, renderings, illustrations, iterations, and tenacity
- Strong knowledge of building systems, codes, and documentation standards
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with consultants
- Proficiency in Revit, CAD, and other design/delivery tool
- A passion for integrating design vision with technical precision
- Proven leadership in delivering complex architectural projects
- Highly collaborative ensuring overarching communication between operations, design and build teams
- Ability to adapt and respond to changing work objectives and priorities
- Professional licensure required
