The Opportunity:
We’re growing our architectural team at SOA and looking for a Registered Architect who can lead projects, guide others, and roll up their sleeves when it’s time to get into the details. You’ll be sketching the big picture, jumping into Revit, talking to a city planner, mentoring a junior - and staying grounded when things get messy, because they often do.
Most of our work is in the institutional and education space, but we also take on a lot of community housing and multi-family projects - often publicly funded and packed with tight timelines and unique constraints. These are layered, hands-on projects with lots of moving parts. We’re looking for someone who sees the value in being part of the whole thing - from design through to permitting, coordination, strategy, and build-out.
What You’ll Be Doing:
This isn’t the kind of role where you hand things off and walk away. You’ll stay close to the work - start to finish - shaping big-picture ideas, navigating the technical details, and helping bring it all to life.
• Lead projects from concept through to construction and occupancy
• Apply your seal, manage permitting, and make sure code compliance is on point
• Coordinate directly with consultants, planners, city officials, municipalities, client teams, and user groups
• Produce drawings, models, and presentations that help people understand what’s possible
• Stay hands-on in Revit - redlining, detailing, and helping keep production moving
• Work through the tricky stuff: life safety, occupancy, BC Building Code & BC Housing compliance
• Manage projects in Design-Bid-Build, Design-Bid and IPD
• Join internal design reviews, offer perspective, and help keep our standards sharp
Who We’re Looking For:
We’re open to different experience paths, but here’s what matters most:
• You’re registered (or eligible to register) with the AIBC – that’s non-negotiable
• You’ve got a Master’s degree in Architecture from a Canadian university
• You’ve worked at least 5 years in a Canadian architectural firm
• You’ve spent time on institutional or public-use projects - ideally schools or community housing
• You’re confident with BC Building Code, life safety, permitting, and consultant coordination
• You’re solid with technical details and happy to get into the Revit model yourself when needed
• You can sort through complex, messy project issues without getting overwhelmed
• You’re someone your team trusts - for practical solutions, a steady hand, and solid follow-through
• You ask smart questions, speak up when something’s off, and don’t wait to be told what to do
You’ll Fit In Here If You:
• Say what you mean, do what you say, and don’t leave people guessing
• Think in terms of “we” more than “me”
• Don’t get flustered when plans shift - you adjust and keep things moving
• Care about the work, the people you're doing it for, and the team you're doing it with
• Know how to bring a bit of calm, a sense of order, or a well-timed laugh to a full day
Compensation & Working Conditions:
• Starting at $85,000/year (negotiable), full-time, in-person at our Chilliwack studio
• Friday afternoons off all summer, plus paid vacation and extended health (fully covered by SOA)
• AIBC dues and development supports covered to support growth in your role
Ready to Apply?
If this sounds like a place where you could do your best work, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply through our recruitment partner, Laura Wortley at OneRecruits, by vising the following link no later than Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for next steps.
To apply, past the following information into your browser:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekxxhBAqy01MfZw0CCDIWpkB_O7usCZ_NxgRMG7ZpLMqsTSg/viewform