The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
AIA will provide you with the opportunity to advocate for the value of architecture and give architects and design professionals the resources they need to do their best work. The collective voice of architects is essential, and our work drives positive change through the power of design.
Each one of us at AIA is a leader committed to demonstrating our mission and values and designing a better future for our country and planet. Even in times of change, AIA’s values remain constant:
- We stand for equity and human rights
- We stand for architecture that strengthens our communities
- We stand for a sustainable future
- We stand for protecting communities from the impacts of climate change
- We stand for economic opportunity
- We stand for investing in the future
- We speak up, and policymakers listen
The American Institute of Architects, as part of the global community, is building a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the profession of architecture to create a better built environment for all. Achieving this vision has a direct impact on the relevance of the profession of architecture and the world's prosperity, health, and future.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Chief Membership Officer, the Managing Director will lead AIA’s EDI efforts by ideating, advising, and initiating EDI team projects during the strategic design and implementation phases. This role will work with cross-functional teams to advise and deliver programming and resources to the organization, working collaboratively to implement the strategy and drive member, volunteer, and component engagement. The Managing Director must work effectively with internal and external stakeholders and fulfill their responsibilities in ensuring AIA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion throughline is embedded throughout the Institute’s operational and programmatic work.
The Managing Director provides expertise in the interrelated areas of workforce needs in architectural practice and equitable communities. Furthermore, the Managing Director will lead internal efforts to ensure AIA has a consistent voice and execution of sound EDI practices. This cross-team collaboration will position the Managing Director to influence, educate, inform, persuade, and coordinate with all AIA stakeholders to strategically promote EDI to our members, components, and internally. Developing training and programming to advance best practices through a DEI lens that supports access, inclusion, allyship, retention, diversity talent pipeline-building, and cultural humility in a legal workplace.
Job Duties
- Advises senior leadership regarding professional and industry trends in the transformation of practice related to driving EDI through the Equity Framework and the organizational strategic plan.
- Gathers architecture firm EDI reports and utilizes data and metrics to inform AIA’s strategic and holistic response to equity, diversity, inclusion and access issues, meeting member needs and internally within the AIA’s programs, policies, and practices.
- Provides strategic direction and leadership to the Women’s Leadership Summit, an AIA signature event, ensuring alignment with mission, content, experience, and financial goals.
- Establishes priorities and workflow within the team, including equity, diversity, and inclusion, emerging professionals, academy issues and programs working with the AIA Equity and the Future of Architecture Committee, and other AIA member groups and committees.
- Leads initiatives and collaborates with components, allied organizations, academic, non-profit organizations, and architectural firms for increased equity, diversity, and inclusiveness among firms, components, and AIA members and within AIA systems.
- Works internally and collaboratively with staff experts to ensure AIA Honors and Awards programming continues dismantling barriers and develops the most transparent and equitable processes that extend from marketing to the application and the jury and selection process.
- Works in collaboration with AIA’s Sales, Exhibitions and Events departments, along with AIA’s Marketing & Communications team, to develop and oversee the execution of plans for new business development opportunities in various EDI programmatic areas within the department to generate new revenue streams in programmatic areas where feasible.
- Monitors financial activities, develops annual budgets, and reviews project budget submissions.
- Manage, mentor, and coach the professional and administrative staff, ensuring that annual program goals and development goals are established for each staff person. These goals are focused on individual growth and development, as well as on individual contribution to the strategic goals of the Institute.
- Develop, execute, and monitor a plan to ensure all AIA events have access and inclusion resources to ensure all attendees are welcome while ensuring wise financial decisions.
- Leads programs to position AIA as the leading source for information regarding career support and development for emerging professionals.
- Provides leadership for identifying and assessing unmet needs of various member groups and aligns efforts to address them while guiding ongoing evaluation and updating of plans.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
KEY PARTNERSHIPS
Board-Level Committee Management
- Works closely with the Chairperson of the Committee and acts as the primary staff liaison developing drafts of reports and ensuring committee engagement meets high levels of service expectations and member engagement.
- Serves as staff liaison to the Equity and the Future of Architecture committee (EQFA), which advises the Board of Directors on a range of issues bearing on equity, diversity and inclusion within the Institute and the profession, issues affecting the future of the profession; and on their ability to engage and represent the communities they serve and society at large.
Identity-Based Affinity Groups
- Serves as primary liaison with architectural identity-based affinity groups. This includes, but is not limited to, World Deaf Architecture (WDA) the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers (AICAE), Asian American and Pacific Islander Architects (AAa/e), Arquitectos, and other newly forming and emerging groups.
- Serves as an internal resource to AIA teams to ensure consistency of messaging, imagery, methodological inclusion, and reporting in AIA’s programs, policies, and practices,
Emerging Professionals
- Oversees and provides strategic direction to staff and appropriate member groups to design and implement career advancement paths that offer increased resources and professional development opportunities for emerging and young professionals throughout AIA.
- Serves as subject matter expert on educating and engaging early career professionals, especially those from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion as fundamental to institutional excellence.
Women in Architecture
- Collaborates with team leads and oversees programmatic support for women in architecture networks and support the team, colleagues, and partners.
Frequent contacts
CEO/EVP
Senior Leadership Team
Managing Director, Component Engagement
Managing Director, Membership Strategy & Engagement
AIA Equity & the Future of Architecture Committee (EQFA)
Educators and academic staff
AIA staff
CACE (Council of Architectural Component Executives)