What are the responsibilities and job description for the Architectural Design Director position at Acton ADU?

Department : Architecture and Design

Experience Level : 5-10 years

Location : Bay Area

Remote : No

Who Are We?

Acton ADU is a rapidly growing team in the Silicon Valley construction space, located in Campbell, California. With a 30-year legacy in construction, our sole focus is making a positive impact on California’s housing crisis. We design, navigate, and build accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as backyard homes. These ADUs create accessible housing options for thousands of homeowners across the Bay Area while positively impacting lives.

At Acton, we aim to infuse Silicon Valley culture into a traditional industry.

Our core principles :

We innovate.
We work together.
We care about people.

Who Are You?

You are a leader with a passion for architecture, interior design, efficiency, and people. You work smart by leveraging technology to optimize workflows and generate faster, better results. You excel at project management and guiding designers to achieve their best. Your architectural instincts are sharp, and you stay ahead of industry trends. You thrive on balancing creativity with structured systems, improving workflows, and building effective teams.

You are eager to work with ADU customers and city planning and building departments, continually refining your process while cultivating positive relationships. Most importantly, you’re driven to craft homes that make a difference for families across California.

The Role :

As the Design Leader at Acton ADU, you’ll join a collaborative team focused on creating innovative ADU solutions that help people thrive. You will lead a team of designers and drafters, and be responsible for excellent customer experiences as you coordinate resources to deliver ADU projects from pre-construction to construction.

You will hone and develop a curated library of ADU designs and interior selection packages. These designs will be beautiful, functional, efficiently buildable, and aligned with cost-effective, price-conscious strategies that customers will love.

You will also oversee permit acquisition, financial management, and workflow optimization while working closely with Acton ADU leadership to ensure our offerings delight customers and remain competitive. As a core team member, your ideas and improvements will drive Acton ADU forward.

Responsibilities : Leadership :

Be a champion for the Acton ADU culture and mission.

Assure customers satisfaction and efficient project management.

Drive the strategy and creation of ADU designs and packages.

Develop refine and develop departmental processes and mentor team members.

Source and onboard specialists, talent, and subcontractors as needed.

Participate in the recruitment and interviewing process for key roles across all departments.

Design Management :

Oversee the design and implementation of all projects and maintain expectations set by the Sales team.

Lead customers through our structured process while managing their budget and expectations.

Listen to customer design and budget goals and recommend solutions.

Manage schedules in collaboration with Project Management and Production.

Back up on-site observations and recommend solutions for ongoing projects.

Review and, as needed, participate in customer presentations.

Develop systems to track and present recommended materials and finishes.

Establish and manage performance metrics like : schedule, budget, and product competitiveness in the market.

Optimize workflows for efficient project execution.

Product Development :

Coordinate resources to generate curated design libraries of ADU floor plans, as well as exterior and interior packages, with material selections and clear budget.

Proactively ensure compliance with state and local ADU codes and regulations for all projects

Continuously innovate design improvements to drive down costs and pass meaningful savings for customers–while maintaining Acton ADU standards.

Maintain and define quality standards in collaboration with leadership.

Curate libraries of plans, interior packages, and product strategies that streamline processes and provide value to homeowners.

Financial and Workflow Optimization :

Develop and manage a financial plan for the design department.

Implement efficiency software and streamline administrative tasks.

Track and report department performance metrics regularly.

Accountabilities :

Percentage of jobs transitioning from design to production.

Accuracy and professionalism of Design Sets presented to customers.

Competitive pricing and budget adherence.

Timelines for design duration and permit approval cycles.

Response times to plan check comments.

Market data that drives strategic product decisions for the company.

Authorities :

Final decision-making authority on hiring, firing, and time-off approvals for design staff.

Budget authority for the design department.

Assign and prioritize projects and department work as needed.

Important Skills and Qualifications :

Mastery of Revit.

Familiarity with project management tools, scheduling software, and team communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Google Suite).

In-depth knowledge of building exterior and interior spaces, including elevations, sections, and finishes.

Proven ability to develop and present well-considered design concepts.

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to deliver presentations to customers, team members, or large groups.

Excellent written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.

About Acton ADU

At Acton ADU, we believe in creating meaningful change by empowering people and fostering innovation. Our team thrives on collaboration and care, with a shared mission to address California’s housing crisis. We measure success by the positive impact we make—whether building beautiful ADUs, improving processes, or supporting one another’s growth. With a culture of curiosity, candor, and a customer-first mindset, we’re building more than homes; we’re building lasting connections and opportunities for everyone to thrive.

Benefits :

We offer competitive salaries, medical and dental insurance, a generous vacation / sick leave policy, and a matching 401(k) program. But what truly sets us apart is our supportive and innovative culture, where everyone is encouraged to contribute to meaningful change.

Equal Opportunity Employer :

Acton ADU is committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status.

About Acton ADU :

Stan Acton has been a builder since he was 10 years old. It began the day he broke his father’s wooden mallet. The mallet had been crafted by Stan’s father when he was a kid, on his own father’s Shopsmith lathe. Stan was devastated and rushed to grab a piece of firewood. He carefully took the wood, placed it on his father’s Shopsmith and in that moment, his passion for carpentry was born.Today Acton Construction is a Design-Build company with enthusiasm for crafting beautiful homes that are functional, lasting, and charming. Acton Construction thrives through established processes and utilizing expertise to provide customers with certainty, transparency, and value always. This is Acton’s legacy.

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