Who is the Director of Operations?

An executor who’ll work with the Partners, Associate Principals, Head of Strategy, Director of Architectural Service Delivery, and Director of Finance to turn ideas and vision into action. A people person who is excited to solve complex issues in creative and compassionate ways. Someone who thinks a little differently, who sees the big picture and excels at breaking it down into consistent tools, systems, and processes that connect us. Someone who brings a bit of fun to the more mundane sides of administration and enables our wider team to flourish without quashing the richness of individual voices. Someone who's at ease with shifting altitudes, looking at something through a high level, strategic lens at one moment, and then rolling up their sleeves and tackling something tactically the next.

What will you do?

Lead the firm's business operations

• Play a key role in the leadership of hcma through the effective management of our business operations;
• Work with our leadership team to actively create, manage, and evolve systems to help meet our performance goals related to people, finances, and business performance;
• Lead our tech strategy, including the relationship between hcma and our external IT providers.

Enhance operational processes

• Influence the development of, and support implementation of systems and processes for firm management functions including human resources, finance, and service delivery;
• Ensure firm wide processes are transparent, understandable, and adaptive to change as needed, with frequent reporting to the Partners;
• Convene and facilitate cross-functional conversations, creating space for a broad range of perspectives and input, synthesizing feedback and identifying a path to execution;
• Lead the implementation of interdisciplinary systems and processes, developing solutions that allow our individual service offerings and functions to shine while maintaining a consistent standard;
• Manage the firm's operating calendar, coordinating, and chairing various leadership meetings and firm wide initiatives and communications.

Be responsible for change management, operationalizing concepts and initiatives

• Lead change management collaboratively and transparently: behavioural and habit changes are key to the success of change at hcma;
• Ensure ways of working across different project types and disciplines are compatible and constructive;
• Ensure new systems and processes gain traction long-term,;
• Build strong relationships – getting to know people well is an integral part of the job;
• Track how things are going: ensure data is current and communicate it simply (love a visual dashboard more than a Word document? You have found your people!).

We’re looking for someone who…

• Is people-focused and open-minded, with a curious attitude;
• Understands the complexity that comes with being a collaborative and co-creative enterprise with clients, communities, consultants, and constructors;
• Contributes eagerly, learns continuously, and always looks for improvement;
• Understands inertia: doesn’t default to reinventing the wheel;
• Is able to identify and focus on priorities without letting perfection halt progress;
• Applies strategic thinking to all levels of planning and delivery; while being comfortable handling tactical details of implementation;
• Is flexible, proactive, patient, persistent and can see when a process needs to change along the way;
• Holds leadership qualities that bring out the best in people;
• Is an excellent communicator – spoken and written – with a knack for explaining complex issues in lay terms;
• Knows when to put pencils down, get out of office, and reflect on work in a different way.

What experience you might have...

• Handled the delivery of strategic operational change in a previous role;
• 10+ years’ experience in business operations, firm management, project delivery, or a related field (we’re flexible on the 10 years, as long as you can demonstrate you’re highly skilled in change management, implementation, and the ability to keep things running smoothly over the longer term);
• Previous experience at a professional services firm, creative firm, or business consultancy is a definite asset;
• Knowledge of operational concepts, practices, and procedures;
• Strong business acumen, analytical skills, and creative problem-solving are required;
• Proven experience identifying and analyzing complex and interlinked business issues;
• Experience managing teams and juggling different skillsets and personalities;
• Strong listening skills, with the ability to manage and de-escalate conflict and build consensus.

How to apply

If this opportunity in Vancouver excites you and you’d like to learn more, please reach out to us at careers@hcma.ca. We’d love to see your resume, and more importantly, know more about you – what you are passionate about and why hcma might be right for you.

What you will do:

• Full-cycle recruitment support, including preparing job postings, candidate search, phone interviews, coordinating interviews and reference checks
• Coordinating the hcma student internship/co-op program with educational institutions and individuals, domestically and internationally
• Maintain a HRIS system by tracking and reporting on employee data to ensure accurate, timely information
• Managing employee on/off boarding and employment change processes; ensuring the accuracy of all employee documentation
• Benefits administration for employees, including employee education, enrollment and answering inquiries on an ongoing basis
• Responding to general HR inquiries; drafting employee communications; developing forms and templates to support processes and maintain job descriptions
• Working collaboratively with Administration on occupational health and safety initiatives
• Participating in special projects and initiatives
• Supporting hcma culture through participation in firm, social, and community initiatives and events
• Working in collaboration with Finance to support payroll processing and administration
• Keep up-to-date with the latest HR trends in best practices

What you will bring:

• 1-2 years' experience in a HR administrative support role
• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Human Resources or Business Administration (is preferred)
• Technical savvy with intermediate proficiency in MS Office suite and HRIS systems (experience with Ceridian Dayforce is an asset)
• Recruiting experience is an asset
• Exceptional attention to detail with strong organizational skills
• Outstanding service orientation is a must
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbally and written
• Ability to handle confidential/sensitive information
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Good judgement and professional demeanor
• Working knowledge of BC/AB employment standards will be considered an asset

If this opportunity excites you and you would like to learn more, please reach out to careers@hcma.ca We’d love to see your resume, and more importantly, know more about you – what are you passionate about and why hcma might be right for you.

We appreciate your interest and thank you for taking the time to consider this opportunity. We will be in touch with individuals selected for an interview.

You’re well-suited for this Architect position if you:

• Are passionate about architecture and design’s role in solving complex societal challenges
• Have a minimum of four years of experience as a registered Architect (AIBC, AAA, OAA, etc.), in designing public buildings and community spaces, as well as experience in planning or designing urban space
• Have a progressive understanding of architecture, the design of public spaces, and future technology trends
• Appreciate high-quality architectural design and the ability to apply rigor and design intent to all levels of detailing
• Are experienced in developing projects from start to finish with minimum supervision, including conceptualizing, designing, construction, contract documents, and liaising with contractors, specialist sub-consultants, and clients
• Are proficient in SketchUp, Revit, and Adobe InDesign Suite
• Have strong technical, graphic, organizational, and communication skills
• Are committed to professionalism and can either self-direct your work or collaborate as a team
• Direct site supervision and construction administration experience an asset

We are looking for people who:

• Believe in design excellence and have a strong portfolio to back it up
• Are committed to developing their technical abilities and understanding of how buildings are realized
• Have strong communication skills (written and verbal/interpersonal) and a positive attitude

If this new opportunity excites you and you want to express your interest, please prepare a submission to us: include your resume, portfolio and most importantly we want to know what you are passionate about and why hcma is right for you. Send this along to careers@hcma.ca. You must be legally eligible to work in Canada and provide supporting evidence prior to any potential offer of employment. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Our Intern Architects can expect to:

• Participate in all aspects of office life
• Be exposed to and engage in critical design thinking
• Participate as team members in real architectural projects of various scales and complexity, including conceptualizing, designing, construction and contract documents
• Research products, sites, and construction methods as part of a project team
• Develop their design skills through application to real architecture and design projects
• Produce strong graphics to support presentations, proposals, reports, engagement, and project presentations
• Work independently and through collaboration and co-creation
• Bring their own particular interests to us and enhance our office culture

We are looking for people who:

• Work with their hands and their minds 
• Bring a positive attitude to a wide variety of tasks 
• Contribute eagerly and learn from others 
• Believe in design excellence and have a strong portfolio to back it up 
• Apply rigour and design intent to all aspects of their work 
• Are committed to developing their technical abilities and understanding of how buildings are realized 
• Have strong graphic, organizational and communication skills 
• Have the ability to work independently and through collaboration and co-creation 
• Minimum of three years post-graduation relevant work experience 
• Have strong working knowledge of Revit, Rhino/SketchUp, and Adobe InDesign Suite 
• Are committed to the profession and are actively pursuing professional registration 

If this opportunity excites you and you want to express your interest, please prepare a submission to us: include your resume, portfolio and most importantly we want to know what you are passionate about and why hcma is right for you.  Send this along to careers@hcma.ca and please note “Intern Architect Opportunity” in the subject line.