Architecture Principal, Community

Little is seeking a highly capable and entrepreneurial leader to take on the position of Community Studio Principal for Southern California. We are looking for an individual who is open-minded and constantly pushing to learn from innovative trends, new experiences, and diverse sources. The candidate will succeed by blending best practices with new approaches while collaborating with in-office peers and national partners.

This role include responsibility for client relationships, business acumen, and leading with a focus on team culture. You will strategize and support growth across Orange County, Los Angles, and the Inland Empire.

The Community Studio Principal will lead a team of people who specialize in the design and construction of a variety of Community typologies including K-12, Higher Education, and Civic You will have the opportunity to mentor and build a team of individuals dedicated to community projects, while collaborating daily with your team and leaders within the office and across the firm. You will have access to a wide range of Candidates must be a registered architect to be considered for the position.

Our firmwide community practice portfolio includes extensive experience in a multitude of project types within K-12, Higher Education, and Civic, including sports & recreation facilities, libraries, public safety facilities, student centers, student housing, performing arts centers, and medical education & health science buildings.

Primary Objectives

• Design Expertise & Execution: Possess deep experience in the execution of Community based buildings. Working with our design partners to continuously improve the quality of our work through thoughtful design that enhances our client’s performance is critical to our firm’s future.


• Business Development: Develop and integrate a strategic Business Development Plan that aligns with the overall Office roadmaps of growth and sustainability across Southern California. Utilize professional networks to target new and existing clients with an ability to identify, be considered for, and win new work. Communicate effectively across a wide team of partners and support staff to maintain consistent progress.  


• Client Satisfaction: Possess a deep conviction for client satisfaction. Become a trusted advisor to our clients and earn client loyalty through subject matter expertise, client care, and service. We are looking for someone who focuses on “what is in it for the other person”.


• Financial Responsibility: Maintain strong studio profitability, allowing us to reward our people and continue to invest in new processes, technologies and our competitive edge. A clear understanding of market conditions that impact cost is necessary to serve our clients.


• Leadership & Team Building: Create team success through clear communication, mentoring, motivation and vision. Help grow the National Community Practice by working productively toward common goals with peers in other offices, our diversified disciplines and their leadership teams. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, are critical to the success of this role.


• Thought Leadership: Passion for public spaces, complex projects, and the environments we impact are necessary to challenge our internal teams and to establish Little at the forefront of our profession. It is critical to reach beyond trends and innovations in public and private sectors and contribute to the public discourse of industry advancement.


• Commitment to Regenerative Outcomes: Regeneration is a step beyond sustainability. It’s about working to restore ecosystems through our projects. It’s a way to expand on solutions so that design can positively affect multiple outcomes at once: economic, environmental, social and human health results. Our trans-disciplinary team structure provides a purposeful platform in pursuit of these solutions.

We believe in the power of design to transform lives.  Our Value Proposition challenges each of us to deliver exceptional, measurable results to our clients. Our Brand Promise is aimed at designing:

• Experiences that matter.


• Inspired Places to enhance communities.


• Buildings which positively impact our environment

***Anticipated salary range for this position: $150,000- $195,000; based on experience level. 

 Why Little:

We are a firm that believes diversity of thought, culture and backgrounds provides for a more creative working environment.  We care that our employees are afforded broad career paths to advance on aligned interests. We stretch our own understanding of how a true innovative architectural firm succeeds and delivers for our clients. We work to spark the imagination and unique discovery that our teams pursue relentlessly in balance with a sustainable business.

It's that spirit of discovery, along with a passion for design, that unites us around our roadmap for growth. Little currently provides a unique opportunity of growth in Southern California for a leader/contributor to the expansion of our Community presence.  

 Curious what it’s like to work at Little? Check out our video!  https://vimeo.com/851727160/a5897aa234

If this sounds like an opportunity that would be exciting for you, please share a resume and letter of interest for review. 

Little is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, Little prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  Little is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected] or a member of our HR Team.