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DAVID M. SCHWARZ ARCHITECTS, INC.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc., an innovative design and architecture firm based in Washington, DC, is seeking a Chief Administrative Officer.

About the Company

David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc. is a Washington, D.C. based design firm established in 1976, and incorporated in 1978. The firm began as a five-member architectural practice and currently employs an architectural and administrative staff of over fifty. A second office in Fort Worth, Texas opened in 1985. In addition to the Washington and Texas work, the firm is engaged in projects which touch cultural, institutional, commercial, sports, educational, mixed use, and residential projects throughout the United States.

DMSAS is principally an Architecture and Planning firm. The design orientation emphasizes architecture as both a service and an art. Much of the firm’s early work in historic preservation engendered the firm with an appreciation for the expressive character that can be conveyed by buildings. Over the years, they have developed skill and sensitivity in the use of architectural design features to make buildings engage their users in meaningful dialogue concerning form and function, tradition and innovation, relation to human scale and surroundings, entry and circulation, proportion, detail and materials, and civic life. The firm work strives to create a human scale enriched through an appropriate level of detail and the juxtaposition of a broad palette of ornament and materials.

Appropriateness to context is a fundamental tenet of the firm’s design philosophy. The firm never sees its buildings as isolated independent objects, but rather as interactive parts of a larger whole. They design buildings and places for the people who use them; the active users who live, work, study, play or travel through them, and the passive users who may walk or drive by during the course of their daily lives. They strive to craft welcoming, well-proportioned spaces with an appropriate scale and level of detail such that the building responds to and engages directly with the people who use it.

DMSAS are committed to quality architecture and quality of its atelier-based work environment. As such, DMSAS define growth as the opportunity to work creatively on better and more prestigious design commissions with the ability to commend commensurately high fees in line with the most recognized design firms. They do not view growth in size or numbers of commissions as a goal in and of itself.

For more information about DMSAS, please refer to their website at www.dmsas.com.

Chief Administrative Officer

The Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO) primary role is to provide operational leadership on a day-to-day basis for all parts of DMSAS. The CAO’s ability to be effective depends to a great extent on intelligence, creativity, and interpersonal abilities. The CAO will need to develop timely reporting mechanisms and comprehensively support an operating infrastructure that contributes to a high quality work environment. The core challenge for the CAO is to ensure that the organizational structure is optimal for the future. This is a challenge that calls for organizational leadership and management and a demonstrated ability to integrate and leverage the creative capacity of the organization in a productive and positive manner.

The CAO will report to the Principals and will provide critical oversight of all operating activities to ensure that key strategic organizational priorities in the near and long-term as set by the Board of Directors, are met. This individual will orchestrate the annual budgeting and planning activities of the organization, providing the Board with critical time to think and act proactively on strategic priorities facing the company.

Overall, DMSAS is looking to recruit an individual who will build an effective and efficient management culture. The CAO must be a skilled leader and manager, capable of directing, motivating and developing the staff while building an organizational infrastructure to support a growing creative enterprise.

In the first 12-to-24 months the broad goals for the CAO include:

• To provide strong and effective internal leadership by defining company expectations, tracking progress against objectives, and providing an environment for professional growth.

• Evaluate current administrative and financial staff positions and personnel making recommendations to the Board for efficient, function and cost effective reorganization.

• Collaborate with the Principals in the design, facilitation, and management of an annual DMSAS planning process. Work with Principals and other staff to develop strategic goals, and short- and mid-range priorities.

• Work with Principal and other Project Managers to allocate staff to projects and teams. Track assignments and teams to ensure equitable, sustainable workload for all staff.

• Identify and arrange for staff development needs (e.g., skills in estimating and tracking time and resource needs; convene “post mortems” on completed projects for staff learning; train policy staff in project management, etc.)

• Provide overall financial and administrative leadership (e.g., budgeting, systems development, IT, scheduling of proposals and reporting, etc.). In conjunction Principals prepare budgets and revenue forecasts on regular basis, for approval by Board.

• To provide the Principals, Associates and staff with the time to think creatively and strategically.

The specific responsibilities for the CAO include the following:

• Oversee all administrative and financial personnel. Either directly or with supports personnel, CAO will be responsible for general administration, accounting, human resources, business development support, risk management, information technology and systems, physical plant, integration with related enmities and partnerships, and coordination with outside accountants, attorneys and consultants.

• Manage, on a day-to-day implementation basis, the integration of the various activities of DMSAS to ensure that they contribute to the fulfillment of the company’s goals.

• Provide oversight and direction for monthly DMSAS planning meeting.

• Provide support to all DMSAS Ad Hoc working committees.

• Review and advise on budgets and work plans for all project proposals – enhance system capabilities for tracking and evaluating success.

• Plan and facilitate internal planning and staff meetings, including development of proposals, as needed.

• Advance a more productive integration across the company in all areas of project, finance, administration, and operations.

• Support the continued development of a general management plan that holds staff accountable to key goals, including budget.

Professional Qualifications and Personal Characteristics

The CAO should ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

• A commitment to the corporate vision and operating values of DMSAS.

• A substantial and impressive record of success in leading and managing a complex operation or business.

• Proven budget management skills and solid program and project management track record.

• A demonstrated ability to inspire trust, organize people into effective teams and motivate them to work well together

• A demonstrated ability to develop and manage complex, multi-year projects and programs is critical.

• Superb professional presence combined with exceptional leadership skills.

• Strong intellect, creativity, drive and entrepreneurial capabilities.

• Articulate, with a proven ability to listen, write and speak effectively

• High energy level, trustworthy, diplomatic and possessing impeccable integrity.

Compensation

Compensation for the Chief Administrative Officer includes a competitive base salary and an excellent package of employee and health benefits.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should e-mail a resume to resumes@explorecompany.com.

Daniel Sherman
President
Explore Company
5 Rokeby Court
Kensington, Maryland 20895
Fax: 301.933.8990

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