Managing Principal

Managing Principal, Design-Build
Overview
Westside Build is a Santa Monica-based home builder that specializes in helping homeowners rebuild high-quality, resilient homes after disasters such as fires, guiding clients from initial concept through to move-in. Our process starts with a deep discovery phase to understand clients' needs and preferences, followed by custom design, permitting, construction, and a final hand-over of the finished home. We emphasize efficiency, transparency, and craftsmanship, offering expedited rebuild options that can significantly shorten typical construction timelines. Westside Build also integrates sustainable and fire-resilient features into their homes to improve durability and performance.
The Managing Principal partners closely with Design, Preconstruction, Construction, and Operations leaders to scale the practice, drive profitability, and deliver exceptional client outcomes.
You are a visionary leader who lives at the intersection of "what if" and "how to." You don't just see blueprints; you see the finished masterpiece. You're obsessed with the magic that happens when world-class architecture is fused seamlessly with precision construction. As our Practice Director, you won't just be managing a department—you'll be the architect of our design-build evolution, running an architectural practice that is "attached at the hip" to our construction powerhouse.
You thrive in environments where...

The stakes are high and the impact is higher. You love the challenge of scaling a practice that changes lives by rebuilding homes and communities.
Silos don't exist. You enjoy partnering across Design, Precon, and Ops to create a frictionless, integrated machine. Owning the drawing details and reviewing the sets for technical accuracy is your complete domain
The P&L is your playground. You have an owner's mindset, driving profitability and growth while maintaining an uncompromising standard for quality.
Innovation is the default. You're constantly refining workflows and standardizing excellence to eliminate "rework" from your vocabulary.
What you'll be doing:

Masterminding Strategy: Defining the roadmap for the design-build practice and partnering with Business Development to hunt and win the right projects.
Owning the Outcome: Taking full command of the practice's financial health, KPIs, and operational efficiency.
Bridging the Gap: Championing "constructability" and value engineering, ensuring design and construction teams are in a constant, productive dance from concept to completion.
Building a Legacy: Leading, coaching, and mentoring a high-performing team of designers and builders, fostering a culture of extreme ownership and collaboration.
Being the Face: Serving as the executive sponsor for our most vital clients, ensuring their vision is realized with every brick and beam.
Are you ready to build what matters?
Software & Tools
Candidates should be comfortable operating at an executive level within modern design-build technology stacks, including:
Design & BIM

Autodesk Revit (working knowledge for coordination and constructability review)
AutoCAD (general familiarity)
Navisworks (model coordination and clash detection)
Bluebeam Revu (drawing review and markup)
Preconstruction & Estimating

Procore Estimating or similar
Sage Estimating, WinEst, or comparable platforms
Excel / Google Sheets (advanced financial and scenario modeling)
Construction & Project Management

Procore (preferred) or similar construction management platforms
Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project (schedule oversight)
PlanGrid, Fieldwire, or similar field collaboration tools
Financial & Reporting

ERP systems such as Sage 300, Viewpoint Vista, or similar
Power BI, Tableau, or dashboard-based KPI reporting tools
Collaboration & Communication

Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
Slack, Teams, or similar collaboration platforms
Note: This role is not expected to perform day-to-day production work but must demonstrate fluency in how these tools support integrated design-build delivery, forecasting, and performance management.
Success Metrics

Practice revenue growth, margin, and backlog health
Owning the drawing details and reviewing the sets for technical accuracy.
Schedule and cost performance across design-build projects
Client satisfaction, referrals, and repeat business
Team engagement, retention, and leadership bench strength
Reduction in design-construction friction and rework
Why Westside Build?

Impact: We aren't just building houses; we are rebuilding lives.
Innovation: We are small enough to be nimble but ambitious enough to redefine how homes are built.
Culture: A high-performance, low-ego team that values speed, precision, and automation.
Requirements
Qualifications

12+ years of experience in design-build, construction, architecture, or integrated project delivery
5+ years in a senior leadership role with P&L responsibility
Proven track record delivering complex design-build projects on time and on budget
Deep understanding of design development, preconstruction, and construction execution
Strong leadership, financial, and operational acumen
Excellent communication and client management skills
Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field required
Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Construction Management, or Architecture preferred
Equivalent combination of education and extensive design-build leadership experience will be considered
Certifications (Strongly Preferred):

Licensed Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE)
DBIA (Design-Build Institute of America) certification
PMP, CCM, or similar project leadership credentials
Preferred Experience

High-end residential or commercial design-build environments
Experience scaling design-build teams or practices
Familiarity with prefabrication, off-site construction, or technology-enabled delivery
Experience operating in fast-growth or transformation settings
Benefits
Benefits & Perks
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Paid time off
Retirement savings plan
This role is Hybrid working onsite 4 days a week.
Salary range is $150,000 - 220,000 commensurate with experience