Preservation Architect and Director | Position Profile and Call for Applications
POSITION DESCRIPTION
InSite Consulting Architects seeks a Preservation Architect + Director to lead and grow the firm’s Washington, DC office, serving as both a technical authority in large-scale historic preservation and a strategic business development leader with deep federal-sector experience. This individual will manage and oversee complex federal, state, District, institutional, and cultural preservation projects—from studies and planning through construction administration—while navigating multi-agency federal approval processes and expanding the firm’s presence among federal owners, cultural institutions, and public-sector clients in the Washington, DC region.
The Preservation Architect + Director role requires a professional who brings demonstrated success working with federal and local governmental agencies as well as other institutional clients and is equally adept at project leadership, regulatory navigation, client development, and staff mentorship.
Founded in 2000, InSite Consulting Architects (ICA) is a growing, dynamic, and creative architecture firm headquartered in Madison, WI, with offices in Washington, DC, Chicago, IL, and St. Louis, MO. This award-winning firm specializes in work within the existing built environment, focusing on adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and forensic analysis of buildings that include interior renovations and new construction projects. ICA also has expertise in building design, enclosure technologies, institutional facilities management, and construction/?contract management. Team members collaborate from project inception through design development and construction completion.
ICA is a federally-certified small business with a passion for humane and sustainable design. As a company with an inclusive and family-friendly organizational culture, we prioritize our employees’ physical and mental well-being and offer a meaningful professional work experience and benefits package including paid vacation/?sick leave, holidays, a company-matched qualified retirement plan, and more.
At ICA, impactful design results from our people and passions. Our approach to work is through hands-on evaluations, in-depth field work, and detailed design work. We are committed to our inclusive culture and diversity where we encourage originality. We respect the need for a flexible work environment and empower your desired career growth. At ICA, you will find a collaborative work environment with a wide variety of project types and project scopes ranging from $10k studies through $100M+ comprehensive facility modernizations. We offer challenge, recognition, and growth opportunities to fuel career growth.
Consideration will be given to remote or hybrid fulfillment of the duties of this position.
This is a full-time exempt position (average: 2,080 hours per year) in accordance with employment laws within the District of Columbia.
Work hours and days generally are Monday through Friday.
Evening or weekend work to participate in meetings may be required periodically.
Travel expenditures are covered or reimbursed through ICA policy.
As noted previously, ICA has a generous benefits package for all employees.
Future ownership potential within the firm will be considered for the successful candidate.
Recruiting Compensation Range:
Base salary is commensurate with education/experience and knowledge/skills/abilities with an additional benefits package; a range of $160,000 to $200,000 is anticipated. An annual review process, tied to compensation, will be performed.
Affirmative Action:
InSite Consulting Architects is an Equal Employment Opportunity/?Affirmative Action Employer. ICA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Other:
Short-listed candidates must be willing to undergo a background check including legal, educational, employment records, etc. This position description does not cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
InSite Consulting Architects has engaged an organizational management consultancy, The Three Aspens, Ltd., to assist with this leadership search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed (confidentially) to Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA via e-mail at helene@theplumstudio.com. No phone calls, please. All candidates will be notified via e-mail as to the status of their application.
To be considered, applicants must submit a customized letter of interest and resume or curriculum vitae (detailing measurable success in the key qualifications for the position) to Ms. Dreiling at helene@theplumstudio.com by 5:00 pm EDT on April 28, 2026.
The Three Aspens, Ltd. is a consulting firm devoted to change management, organizational transformation, and process innovation. Through a carefully orchestrated search, screening, and selection process, we place the best possible professional to lead and manage a particular not-for-profit or design firm.
