Senior Architect - Design & Project Lead

Karan Grover & Associates · Vadodara, India

Role Overview: 

We are looking for a highly experienced and driven Sr. Architect with 10 – 15 years experience to join our team at KGA. This is a leadership role for someone - who can move beyond individual project execution to take ownership of the design quality, project delivery, client relationship and team performance. This position will directly report to the Principal Architect & Design Director.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Architectural Leadership

• Lead the design direction and architectural vision across multiple projects.
• Review and guide concept, schematic, detailed design and construction documentation.
• Ensure that design intent, functionality, aesthetics and technical quality are maintained throughout project execution.
• Provide creative and strategic input on complex design challenges and decision-making.
• Establish and maintain high standards of architectural excellence across the team.

Project Ownership & Delivery

• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of multiple projects, ensuring they remain on track with respect to design, timelines, quality and budgets .
• Identify project risks early and drive timely solutions.
• Coordinate with consultants, contractors, vendors and other stakeholders to ensure seamless execution.
• Review drawings, specifications, BOQs, material selections and site execution.
• Conduct regular project reviews and ensure accountability at every stage of delivery.

Team Management – 5 Architects

• Directly manage, mentor and develop a team of five architects .
• Allocate projects and responsibilities based on individual strengths, experience and workload.
• Establish clear goals, timelines and performance expectations for each team member.
• Conduct regular reviews of project progress and individual performance.
• Build a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration and continuous learning.
• Identify capability gaps and provide coaching, guidance and development opportunities.
• Ensure that the team operates efficiently and consistently delivers work to the required standard.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a senior point of contact for key clients and stakeholders.
• Build strong, long-term client relationships through clear communication and proactive problem-solving.
• Lead client presentations, design reviews and project discussions.
• Understand client objectives and translate them into strong architectural and project outcomes.
• Manage expectations, resolve conflicts and drive decisions when required.

Practice & Operational Leadership

• Contribute to improving the overall systems, processes and standards of the architecture practice.
• Develop and implement effective workflows for design reviews, documentation and project tracking.
• Improve team productivity, resource utilisation and project efficiency.
• Standardise best practices across projects wherever relevant.
• Work closely with leadership on resource planning, project prioritisation and business requirements.
• Contribute to the growth and evolution of the firm’s design and project management capabilities.

What Success Looks Like

Within this role, success will be measured not only by the successful completion of individual projects, but by the performance of the entire team and portfolio .

The successful candidate will:

• Deliver multiple projects with consistently high standards of design and execution.
• Build a high-performing, accountable team of five architects .
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, with strong quality control and minimal avoidable escalations.
• Develop architects who can independently own projects and take greater responsibility.
• Strengthen client relationships and increase client confidence in the practice.
• Create more efficient systems and workflows across the team.
• Become a trusted architectural and project leadership resource for the organisation.

Ideal Candidate

• 10–15 years of professional architectural experience , preferably with experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proven experience leading architectural teams and mentoring junior and mid-level architects.
• Strong understanding of the complete project lifecycle, from concept and design development through documentation and execution.
• Excellent design sensibility combined with strong technical and execution capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience in client management and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make decisions, take ownership and drive outcomes independently.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Ability to balance creative leadership with commercial and operational discipline .
• A natural people leader who can motivate, mentor and hold a team accountable.

The Impact of the Role

This role is ultimately about multiplying impact — not simply managing five architects, but enabling five architects to perform at their highest potential while ensuring that every project reflects the quality, design thinking and standards of the practice.

The Senior Architect will be a key leadership layer between the firm’s leadership and project teams, responsible for turning the organisation’s design vision into consistently excellent project outcomes .