Madrid Office Director for Recognized International Architectural Practice.

Location: Madrid, Spain

Position: Studio Director

Sector: Architecture / Design / International Project Development

Reports to: Directors / Partners

About the Position

We are looking to appoint a Studio Director to lead the day-to-day management and coordination of an international architecture practice based in Madrid.

The successful candidate will have a transversal role, combining team leadership, resource planning, client management, business development and oversight of the financial management of projects.

We are looking for a strong leader with a broad understanding of both the business and project environment, a results-oriented mindset, and excellent organisational and communication skills. The Studio Director will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the practice and will act as a link between the teams, clients and senior management.

About the Studio

Urko Sanchez Architects is an award-winning architectural practice with offices in Nairobi, Kenya and Madrid, Spain. The firm is internationally recognised for its culturally rooted, environmentally sensitive design — weaving together contemporary architecture with vernacular materials, local craftsmanship, and sustainable engineering. Recent projects span Kenya, Uganda, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and the practice has received recognition including the 2025 Holcim Foundation Award for Sustainable Design, multiple Architectural Association of Kenya Awards of Excellence and shortlistings for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

The practice works across residential, commercial, hospitality, cultural and social sectors with a philosophy that every project demands a tailor-made response to its context, client and community.

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KEY AREAS & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Team & Studio Operations The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the effective functioning of the teams and the appropriate organization of the workload, working closely with the Design Department Director, Finance Department, Administration Department and CEO.

Key responsibilities will include

- Ensuring the timely and proper delivery of projects, including all milestones and intermediate deliverables.
- Organising teams according to workload, project requirements and priorities.
- Managing and updating the resource planning calendar, anticipating future needs and potential capacity conflicts.
- Leading and coordinating the Monday Meeting, ensuring effective monitoring of projects, workloads and priorities.
- Acting as the main point of reference for the team on day-to-day matters, facilitating the resolution of questions, conflicts and operational needs.
- Managing matters relating to holidays, availability, internal organisation and employee concerns.
- Planning resources over the medium and long term, anticipating potential growth or reduction of the team according to the project pipeline.




- Defining the professional profiles required by the practice based on the current and anticipated project workload.
- Participating in the search, selection and interviewing of candidates, ensuring that the appropriate profiles are recruited.

2. Clients, Opportunities & Tenders

Working closely with the Administration Department, Finance Department and CEO, the Studio Director will act as a key point of reference in the relationship with existing and prospective clients, as well as in the development of new business opportunities.

Key responsibilities will include

- Acting as a key contact for clients, Procurement departments and commercial teams.
- Maintaining and developing relationships with strategic clients.
- Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities.
- Assessing the requirements of each opportunity and planning the teams, resources and costs required to prepare competitive proposals.

- Leading and coordinating the preparation of RFPs, competitions and tenders, including:
- Direct communication with clients and the ability to provide an immediate and effective response.
- Defining and assembling the required project teams.
- Contacting and coordinating subconsultants and external collaborators.
- Preparing and coordinating technical and commercial documentation.
- Submitting proposals through the relevant platforms.
- Following up on tenders and maintaining communication with the client throughout the process.
- Preparing and coordinating commercial proposals for new projects.
- Once a project has been awarded, leading the transition into project delivery, including reviewing and refining the brief with the client, internal coordination, and supporting the contract negotiation and signing process.
- Ensuring that commercial terms, scope, resources and client expectations are properly aligned before the project begins.

3. Invoicing, Collections & Financial Coordination Working closely with the Finance Department, the Studio Director will be responsible for the operational follow-up of invoicing and collections associated with projects.

Key responsibilities will include

- Confirming the correct issuance of invoices once the relevant client approval has been obtained.
- Managing the submission of invoices through the different client platforms.
- Monitoring the status of outstanding invoices.
- Following up and chasing overdue payments, maintaining active communication with the relevant client contacts.
- Coordinating and confirming payments to subconsultants for completed work, particularly where agreed payment terms have expired.




- Monitoring the correct management of payment and invoicing processes.
- Managing matters relating to WHT (Withholding Tax) and following up on the corresponding certificates when required.
- Maintaining an overall view of the invoicing and collections status of projects, anticipating potential issues and escalating them when appropriate.

The Profile We Are Looking For

We are looking for a professional with solid experience in the management of architecture, engineering, design practices or international professional environments, with the ability to combine strategic vision with hands-on involvement in day-to-day management.

We will particularly value

- Experience in leading or managing studios and multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience managing international projects.
- Demonstrated ability to organise teams, resources and priorities.
- Experience dealing with clients, Procurement departments and commercial teams.
- Experience with RFPs, competitions, tenders and the preparation of commercial proposals.
- Ability to understand and manage costs, resources, invoicing and collections.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities, with a high degree of autonomy.
- A results-oriented approach and strong focus on meeting deadlines.
- Ability to work in a dynamic environment with multiple projects running simultaneously.
- Fluent professional English, both written and spoken.
- Previous experience in international architecture practices, ideally in Anglo-Saxon, African and Middle Eastern environments, and/or on projects of significant scale and complexity, will be highly valued.

What We Offer

- The opportunity to join an international architecture practice based in Madrid.
- A senior position with significant responsibility and visibility, with a direct impact on the organisation and growth of the practice.
- Involvement in the management of international projects and business opportunities.
- A dynamic, multidisciplinary and excellence-driven working environment.
- The opportunity to actively contribute to the definition and development of the practice's teams, processes and organisational structure.
- Professional development and long-term career opportunities within a position with significant scope for growth.

The Challenge The person taking on this position will play a fundamental role in consolidating the operation of the practice, connecting people, projects, clients and business.

We are looking for someone who can anticipate needs, establish priorities, facilitate the work of the teams and, at the same time, represent the practice professionally with clients and business opportunities.

If you are an organized, proactive and solution-oriented professional, with strong business awareness and a passion for architecture and international projects, we would like to hear from you. Please contact us at [email protected]

Re: Madrid Office Director

📌 International Architectural Office Director (Madrid)
🏢 Urko Sanchez Architects
📍 Madrid