Senior Associate, Architect (MKThink)
The Position:
We seek a smart, enthusiastic, intellectually curious, responsible, and committed individual to assist teams during all phases of work at MKThink. The candidate must be self-motivated, an inquisitive person with excellent time management and organizational skills is needed. This person will work on assignments for various university campuses, school districts, higher education systems, civic, or other institutional clients. This position is full-time, with full benefits, and based in our San Francisco office on the beautiful Great Highway with spectacular ocean views. Travel is expected for 25% of the time, including to our Honolulu office.
Key Responsibilities:
• Conceives, designs, and prepares working drawings for new or modified structures. Performs a variety of complicated problem-solving tasks.
• Responsible for daily development of architectural design and technical aspects of the projects. Coordinates the technical efforts of Consultants and Engineers.
• Process submittals/substitution requests during construction and address RFIs.
• Interface with building and permitting officials during the permitting and construction phases of the project
• Ensure that all architectural and design work complies with local, state, and federal regulations, company policies, and sustainability best practices.
You will be a key team member to help expand our capabilities in support of our clients' aggressive expansion initiatives, working with our global and regional leaders to lead internal and external project teams and grow client relationships. Work with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver informed project solutions based on market expertise and an understanding of client goals.
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:
• Professional degree in architecture
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in architecture; experience with a US-based firm for at least 3 years
• Experience in campus planning a plus
• The ideal candidate will be adept in the design and technical elements of project delivery
• Knowledgeable, thoughtful, and adaptable, with strong problem-solving skills
• Self-motivated, fast learner who is comfortable in dynamic, non-linear processes
• Great listener, communicator, and knowledge sharing
• Facility and competency managing project financials
• Demonstrated commitment to sustainability and sustainable building practices required; Portfolios should include at least 1 project with this particular focus, and candidates should be prepared to talk to this in their interview, especially built projects with LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL Building Standard , Fitwell and /or Net Zero Building certification
• Proactive with a desire to grow professionally.
• Experience in Federal or State government work is desirable.
The ideal candidate will have the following skills:
• Licensed and registered Architect
• Proficient in REVIT, AutoCAD, BIM360, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Bluebeam; parametric modeling and rendering abilities are a plus
• Ability to build and maintain good relationships with Clients and team.
• Proven experience in both new construction and existing building rehabilitations/renovations
• Thorough knowledge of building codes, approval processes, and construction techniques
• Excellent organizational skills and an extremely high level of attention to detail
• Ability to mentor junior staff on technical specifications regarding design and construction documents
• Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), and the Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat).
Working with Others:
• Self-awareness and ability to analyze past performance and drive self-improvement.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and ask for help when needed.
• Flexibility in collaborating with project teams and clients. Ability to receive and clarify feedback and adjust accordingly.
• Kindness and support of colleagues.
Interests:
• Demonstrated interest in at least one of the following:
• The relationship between architecture, the natural environment, and culture.
• The psychology behind human behavior in the built environment.
• The impact of physical environment solutions on community strength, human health, environmental resiliency, or learning outcomes.