Designing environments and creating opportunities.

Join our team!

We are a group of creative thinkers who want to improve the built environment, our communities, and our people. With an average employee tenure of 14 years, we care about our team beyond the walls of our office.

  • Seeking a full-time Clinical Operations / Design Specialist with 15+ years of experience. The ideal candidate would have a diverse background that includes experience in clinical nursing; healthcare administration/leadership across multiple departments of a hospital or health system; and involvement with the design process through participation in the design of healthcare projects as part of user group meetings or leadership in healthcare design and construction projects.

    The Clinical Operations / Design Specialist will work in close collaboration with senior firm leadership, principals, design team members and the marketing team. They will be expected to understand and articulate knowledge of health system operations/functions and their relationship to the built environment in design discussions with clients and other design team members and in the development of facility layouts and content developed for client outreach, presentation and/or publication.

    ESa (Earl Swensson Associates) is a 63-year-old nationally recognized architecture firm located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. The firm provides design services in architecture, interior architecture, master planning, and space planning. ESa serves clients in commercial, community + arts, education, healthcare, hospitality, residential and senior living.

    Position: Full-time with benefits
    Position Reports to: ESa’s President
    Base Salary: Based on experience/expertise
    Office Location: Nashville, TN.
    Primary Work Location: ESa’s office when not traveling for business
    Travel: Travel required

    Role/Responsibilities

    • Review and offer feedback on plans, space layouts, design details, and (less frequently) products and materials for design projects.
    • Collaborate with design team members on space adjacencies, design layouts and flow.
    • Engage with clients and the design team in the early phases of projects to infuse clinical knowledge and evidence-based design concepts into the design process.
    • Participate in client leadership and clinical user group meetings, discussing design and operations and translating key concepts across disciplines.
    • Serve as internal consultant/design advisor, educating the team on key aspects of healthcare operations; clinical procedures; clinical and operational best practices and trends; patient/staff/public/material flows; and lean healthcare concepts and practices.
    • Articulate key principles at the intersection of healthcare design and operations.
    • Work with client healthcare organizations to research and document specific outcomes related to design interventions.
    • Assist with the development of responses to RFIs/RFQs/RFPs and company marketing materials.
    • Participate in interview preparation and client interviews in pursuit of new work for the firm.
    • Maintain an understanding of ESa’s past portfolio and ongoing work in order to share ESa’s experience with existing and prospective clients and industry partners.
    • Serve as a liaison between ESa and industry organizations.
    • Build relationships for the firm and network across the healthcare and AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industries.
    • Maintain a list of healthcare and design industry benchmarking sources.
    • Assist ESa’s project teams by researching standards set by clinical organizations and other related entities/authorities impacting the design of healthcare spaces.
    • Compile information from a variety of clinical and design resources to inform projects in design and support the ongoing education of the firm’s project teams.
    • Collaborate to develop white papers, content for articles and conference presentations.
    • Attend industry conferences/events to network and/or speak as a representative of the firm.
    • Work with ESa’s Crisis Management Team as-needed to address health-related issues.
    • Identify opportunities to support the work of the firm across all design sectors.

    Qualifications

    Required

    • 15+ years of clinical, leadership and design team experience that includes clinical nursing; healthcare administration/leadership across multiple departments of a hospital or health system; and experience with the design process through participation in the design of healthcare projects as part of user group meetings or leadership in healthcare design and construction projects
    • Bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
    • Active RN license
    • Verbal and written communication skills with the ability to synthesize and connect complex clinical and design concepts into more simple, understandable terms
    • Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to listen and work collaboratively within a high performing team
    • Proven ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams
    • Ability to multitask, prioritize and work calmly under the stress of multiple deadlines
    • Detail-oriented with demonstrated analytical and organizational skills
    • Good listener with the ability to synthesize information into relatable concepts that bridge multiple disciplines
    • Inquisitive with the desire for continuous growth and learning in both clinical and design related subject matter
    • Knowledge of clinical best practices
    • Understanding of the design process as well as design and construction trends and best practices
    • Ability to read and understand architectural floor plans
    • Ability to travel to job interviews, client meetings, conferences
    • Experienced presenter

    Preferred

    • Prior experience in the AEC (Architecture / Engineering / Construction) industry
    • Experienced writer / published author
    • Experienced conference speaker
    • EDAC Certification from the Center for Health Design
    • Lean certification or experience in lean healthcare operations or lean design initiatives
    • Proofreading skills

    Software Skills

    • Microsoft Office Suite (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
    • Bluebeam (preferred, not required)

    Send inquiries to:
    Kevin Harney, AIA
    Vice-President/Principal
    kevinh@esarch.com
    (615) 329-9445

    If interested, please e-mail your resume and work samples to:

    kevinh@esarch.com
  • ESa is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented individual to join our growing Quality Management Team as our Specification Technician. In this role, you will play a crucial part in developing, refining, and maintaining our office master specifications, ensuring the clarity and consistency of our construction documentation across a wide range of project types, including healthcare, hospitality, multi-family residential, educational, and commercial office projects.

    Responsibilities and Related Experience:

    • Support the Specifications Manager in creating, updating, and maintaining ESa’s office master specifications, adhering to industry standards and best practices.
    • Utilize current CSI organizational tools and formats, including MasterFormat, PageFormat, SectionFormat, and Preliminary Project Descriptions, in crafting construction document specifications.
    • Continuously enhance our office master specifications, incorporating specialized content tailored to specific project types, regional conditions, sustainability considerations, and other relevant factors, using RIB SpecLink Cloud as the primary editing software and basis of content.
    • Collaborate closely with the Quality Management Team to define firm needs and help to devise uniform office master specification writing strategies. Work directly with the Specifications Manager to develop helpful specification process and documentation tools, including project checklists, templates, and request forms, each uniquely tailored to a wide range of facility types. Thoroughly document specification writing best practices to the QM Team and ESa’s Project Managers, Design Managers, and Interior Designers.
    • Collect quality and quantity metrics and other related data pertaining to the office master specifications and their implementation in the field.
    • Conduct thorough research on products, manufacturers, codes and standards, and rules and regulations applicable to construction specifications.
    • Maintain an up-to-date database of technical experts, including material manufacturers and their regional product representatives.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    1. Associates degree (or equivalent experience) in architectural engineering technology, construction management, or related field. Applicants with a degree in English or Technical Writing will also be considered.
    2. CDT certified, or general knowledge of construction contract documents and willingness to become CDT certified within 6 months of hire.
    3. Expert competency with Microsoft Office Suite applications.
    4. General understanding of building codes, regulations, and diverse construction materials.
    5. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

    Other Desired Abilities:

    1. Familiarity with commercial specification content software providers, such as RIB SpecLink, Deltek Specpoint, Conspectus, or similar.
    2. Adaptable to various additional types of software and related technologies, including Smartsheet, Bluebeam Revu, and A.I. prompt writing.
    3. LEED, WELL, Green Globes, or other sustainable building certification is an advantage.

    ESa values a positive attitude, personal integrity, a strong work ethic, and a team mentality as we look to grow our talented family of employees. ESa offers a competitive salary, a well-rounded benefits plan, and a supportive family atmosphere. Join our team to make a meaningful impact on the built environment!

    If interested, please e-mail your resume and work samples to:

    careers@esarch.com
  • ESa is looking for a team oriented, Interior Designer to join our talented team. A self-motivated, creative designer who can coordinate successful projects from schematic design through construction. The full time designer will work collaboratively with project teams, manage multiple tasks and utilize current technologies to achieve design excellence.

    ESa values a positive attitude, personal integrity, a strong work ethic, and a team mentality as we look to grow our talented family of employees. ESa offers a competitive salary, a well-rounded benefits plan, and a team atmosphere.

    Qualifications:

    • 5-10 years of experience in designing projects.
    • Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design
    • NCIDQ certification preferred
    • Proficient in Revit, works independently to complete projects

    Responsibilities and Experience:

    • Assist in all aspects of developing healthcare interiors including design concepts, space planning, design detailing, product research, graphic documentation and project coordination.
    • Research materials and concepts and use in-depth knowledge of products to develop a strong project palette.
    • Participates in client presentations and project meetings, preparing presentation materials to communicate design concepts.
    • Collaborates with internal team members, other disciplines, consultants, and vendors to create a cohesive design.
    • Experience in development and compilation of construction documents.
    • Excellent time management, computer, organizational and collaborative skills.
    • Strong communication and relationship management skills.

    Desired Skills: 

    • Proficient in Revit
    • Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suites
    • Experience in Enscape or Lumion is preferred
    • Knowledge of Bluebeam Revu

    If interested, please e-mail your resume and work samples to:

    careers@esarch.com
  • ESa is looking for a team oriented, Healthcare Interior Designer to join our talented team.  A self-motivated, creative designer who can coordinate successful projects from schematic design through construction. The full time designer will work collaboratively with project teams, manage multiple tasks and utilize current technologies to achieve design excellence.

    ESa values a positive attitude, personal integrity, a strong work ethic, and a team mentality as we look to grow our talented family of employees. ESa offers a competitive salary, a well-rounded benefits plan, and a team atmosphere.

    Qualifications:

    • 5-10 years of experience designing healthcare projects.
    • Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design
    • NCIDQ certification preferred
    • Proficient in Revit, works independently to complete projects

    Responsibilities and Experience:

    • Assist in all aspects of developing healthcare interiors including design concepts, space planning, design detailing, product research, graphic documentation and project coordination.
    • Research materials and concepts and use in-depth knowledge of products to develop a strong project palette.
    • Participates in client presentations and project meetings, preparing presentation materials to communicate design concepts.
    • Collaborates with internal team members, other disciplines, consultants, and vendors to create a cohesive design.
    • Experience in development and compilation of construction documents.
    • Excellent time management, computer, organizational and collaborative skills.
    • Strong communication and relationship management skills.

    Desired Skills:

    • Proficient in Revit
    • Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suites
    • Experience in Enscape or Lumion is preferred.
    • Knowledge of Bluebeam Revu

    If interested, please e-mail your resume and work samples to:

    careers@esarch.com
  • ESa is looking for a Construction Document Detailer who will be responsible for production and development of construction documents for a variety of construction types including Healthcare, High-rise Commercial Office, Education, Hospitality and/or Mixed-Use sectors. Our detailers are expected to work well within a team, have an acute attention to detail, excellent communication skills and a thorough knowledge of construction detailing and coordination.

    ESa values a positive attitude, personal integrity, a strong work ethic, and a team mentality as we look to grow our talented family of employees. ESa offers a competitive salary, a well-rounded benefits plan, and a team atmosphere.

    Desired Skills & Experience:

    • A professional degree in Architecture is preferred, but not mandatory.
    • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in construction documentation.
    • Excellent time management, computer, organizational and collaborative skills.
    • Proficiency in Revit is required.
    • Working knowledge of building construction and detailing.
    • Experience in development and compilation of construction documents.

    If interested, please e-mail your resume and work samples to:

    careers@esarch.com
  • ESa is looking for as many as three Construction Contract Administrators who will travel frequently and manage multiple projects across the United States. ESa’s project types include Healthcare, High-rise Commercial Office, Education, Hospitality, and Mixed-Use sectors. Clear communication and relationship development skills with the project team – coworkers, owners, contractors, consultants, and code officials – are imperative.

    ESa values a positive attitude, personal integrity, a strong work ethic, and a team mentality as we look to grow our talented family of employees. ESa offers a competitive salary, a well-rounded benefits plan, and a team atmosphere.

    Desired Skills & Experience:

    • Associates, Bachelors, or Masters degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Construction Management, or other design and construction related degrees is advantageous but not required.
    • A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in construction administration or management.
    • Ability to understand and interpret contract documents; process RFI’s, submittals, and other construction phase documentation correctly and efficiently; and identify variations in construction from the contract documents.
    • Proficiency in PlanGrid, Bluebeam, and Office Suite programs is needed. Other software experience in Smartsheet, Revit, BIM 360, and other similar software is beneficial.
    • Experience in renovation, renovation/additions, and new construction projects of varying sizes is best. Healthcare experience in the state of Florida is an advantage, as well as high-rise construction experience.

    If interested, please e-mail your resume and work samples to:

    careers@esarch.com
  • We are seeking talented and motivated architectural interns to join our team and contribute to our exciting projects.

    Job Description
    As an architectural intern at our firm, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in a professional architectural environment. Under the guidance of our experienced architects, interns will have a wide range of experiences from concept development to construction documentation. This internship offers a unique opportunity to learn and grow in a collaborative and supportive setting, while working on a variety of exciting projects that shape the built environment.

    Responsibilities:

    • Collaborate with the project team to develop architectural designs, drawings, and renderings using industry-standard software and tools.
    • Contribute to the preparation of design presentations, including 2D and 3D visualizations, models, and diagrams.
    • Assist in conducting site visits, surveys, and assessments to gather relevant project information.
    • Contribute to the production of construction documents, including drawings, and schedules.
    • Conduct research on architectural precedents, materials, building codes, and sustainable design strategies.
    • Support the implementation of sustainable design principles and strategies in projects.
    • Collaborate with team members to review and analyze project requirements and constraints.
    • Provide general administrative support, such as file organization, document management, and coordination of project-related tasks.

    Qualifications:

    • Currently pursuing a degree in Architecture or a related field (or recently graduated).
    • Proficiency in Revit is preferred. Working knowledge in the following architectural software’s such as SketchUp, Enscape, Bluebeam, Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, and AutoCAD is a plus.
    • Strong visual and graphic communication skills, with the ability to effectively present design ideas.
    • Familiarity with architectural design principles, building systems, and construction documentation.
    • Knowledge of sustainable design practices and building codes is a plus.
    • Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
    • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
    • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and effectively communicate ideas.
    • Strong work ethic, self-motivation, and eagerness to learn and grow in the architectural field.

    Learn what it’s like to be an intern at ESa.

    If interested, please e-mail your resume and work samples to:

    careers@esarch.com

Relationships are our greatest resource.

Working at ESa offers a dynamic environment where creativity meets dedication. Collaborating with our talented team members fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth, allowing you to refine your expertise and expand your horizons. We come together not only to work hard but also to share moments of inspiration and celebrate achievements. We care about our people and how they shape communities.

Read about our culture
Work life at ESa
EOE Statement
ESa is an equal opportunity employer. Employment is based on individual merit, and fitness of applicants and employees as related to the requirements of the specific positions to be filled, and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, disability status, veteran’s status, genetic information or other classification protected by law.