Director of Existing Building

Department: Vertical Transportation

Lerch Bates is seeking a Director of Existing Building to lead our New York City Vertical Transportation consulting team. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing a diverse group of consultants and project managers dedicated to helping property managers, building owners, and developers optimize the performance, safety, modernization, and long-term management of their vertical transportation systems.

As the Director of Existing Building, you will combine business leadership, client relationship management, operational oversight, and strategic planning to drive the continued growth and success of the practice. You will play a critical role in developing talent, growing key client relationships, advancing multi-disciplinary consulting opportunities, and ensuring the delivery of exceptional client service and project outcomes.

This position is ideal for an experienced vertical transportation leader who is passionate about developing people, building client partnerships, driving business growth, and shaping the future of a high-performing consulting team.

About Lerch Bates:

Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high-profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that integrates Building Science and Building Flow into a unified delivery model.

Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, rehabilitation, management, and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well-informed decisions in an increasingly complex built environment.

We are 100% employee-owned through our ESOP. That means when the company succeeds, our employee-owners share in that success. It's more than a retirement benefit—it's an ownership mindset backed by the opportunity to build long-term financial value while helping shape the future of the company.

What You’ll Do:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed in this position. They are not intended to prescribe or restrict the assignments that management may make.

Business Development & Client Leadership

• Lead business development efforts focused on property managers, building owners, developers, and other key stakeholders throughout the New York City market.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships while serving as a trusted advisor and representative of Lerch Bates.
• Lead or support responses to RFPs, RFQs, interviews, and strategic pursuits.
• Partner with market development and business leaders to identify new opportunities and expand existing client relationships.
• Gather client feedback, evaluate service delivery, and implement improvements to strengthen the client experience.
• Promote Lerch Bates' multidisciplinary consulting capabilities and coordinate opportunities across service lines.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Vertical Transportation Consultants, Project Managers, and related staff.
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture focused on excellence, accountability, and professional growth.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, coaching, succession planning, and performance management activities.
• Provide ongoing guidance and feedback related to client service, consulting best practices, project delivery, and professional development.
• Help develop the next generation of technical and operational leaders within the organization.

Operational & Financial Management

• Oversee the performance and operations of the Existing Buildings practice within the New York City office.
• Manage staffing, workload balancing, utilization, and resource planning to support business objectives.
• Monitor project portfolios and financial performance to help achieve profitability and operational targets.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency in project execution and client deliverables.
• Collaborate with leadership to establish operational priorities, performance goals, and growth initiatives.

Strategy & Practice Development

• Collaborate with executive leadership to support strategic planning and practice growth initiatives.
• Research industry trends, emerging technologies, market conditions, and best practices to enhance service offerings.
• Help develop and implement strategies that strengthen Lerch Bates' position within the vertical transportation consulting market.
• Support innovation and continuous improvement initiatives focused on client experience, operational excellence, and business growth.
• Champion collaboration between vertical transportation, architectural design, building science, and other consulting disciplines.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience will be considered.
• 5+ years of experience within the vertical transportation, real estate development, property management, consulting, construction, or related industries.
• Previous supervisory, team leadership, business development, and project management experience.
• Strong knowledge of the vertical transportation consulting industry, including elevators, escalators, modernization programs, inspections, maintenance strategies, and existing building operations.
• Working knowledge of applicable building codes, industry standards, and building systems.
• Proven ability to develop, maintain, and grow client relationships through exceptional service and project delivery.
• Strong leadership skills with experience coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and business development abilities.
• Experience managing operational performance, utilization, staffing, and profitability objectives.
• Ability to develop and execute strategic business plans and growth initiatives.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with clients, consultants, project managers, and executive leadership.
• A proactive, client-focused mindset with a passion for leadership, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with property management firms, commercial real estate owners, developers, or large institutional clients.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consulting or professional services teams.
• Established relationships within the New York City real estate and vertical transportation markets.
• Demonstrated success driving business growth, client retention, and team development.
• Experience supporting strategic planning, operational improvement, and organizational growth initiatives.

Why Work with Lerch Bates?

• Competitive base salary of $190,000 - $210,000 per year, based on experience, qualifications, and location
• Annual performance-based bonus opportunity, with target incentive levels varying by position and based on individual and company performance.
• 100% Employee-Owned ESOP (company-funded retirement benefit that allows eligible employees to share in the company's long-term success)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off (starting at 17 days annually)
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) with 6% employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance and wellness programs

Become an Employee-Owner

One of the biggest advantages of working at Lerch Bates is that we are 100% employee-owned through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Unlike many companies that offer only a salary and retirement plan, eligible employees receive company-funded ESOP shares at no cost to them as part of their long-term retirement benefits.