Director, Pediatrics

About the role

The Director, Pediatrics will set the vision and guide the strategic growth of HDR’s Pediatric Practice while maintaining an active, hands-on role in project leadership. This leader will champion environments that support whole-child health, family-centered care, clinical excellence, and positive developmental outcomes, advancing innovative, evidence-informed, and human-centered pediatric design across the full continuum of care.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term vision and growth strategy for the pediatric practice
• Advance design excellence, innovation, and consistency across all pediatric work firmwide
• Maintain a meaningful role in projects to ensure real world application of practice priorities, clinical insight, and core values
• Grow HDR’s Pediatric Practice within the Health Sector while supporting collaboration across Architecture, Planning, Engineering, and other business groups
• Ensure HDR’s position as a recognized leader in pediatric healthcare planning and design, with a focus on whole child health, family engagement, safety, adaptability, and operational excellence
• Inspire staff at all levels to contribute to the growth, innovation, and evolution of pediatric design expertise
• Evaluate, mentor, and recruit professionals to build and strengthen a high performing, specialized pediatric practice team
• Represent HDR through industry engagement, research, publications, and speaking opportunities focused on pediatric healthcare
• Expand relationships across clinical, academic, research, and advocacy communities supporting child health and wellness
• Develop, nurture, and sustain strong relationships with children’s hospitals, healthcare systems, academic medical centers, pediatric providers, and community partners
• Lead business development and marketing efforts in coordination with Health Sector and regional leadership
• Collaborate with architecture, planning, and design leadership to establish shared goals for excellence in pediatric environments
• Promote inclusive and equitable environments that address the diverse needs of children and families across cultures, abilities, and life stages
• Affirm HDR’s commitments to sustainability, resilience, and regenerative design are integrated into pediatric healthcare solutions
• Assess talent, capabilities, and organizational structure to position the pediatric practice for long term growth and innovation
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement initiatives that elevate practice performance and outcomes
• Foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, mentorship, and accountability across interdisciplinary teams
• Work collaboratively with marketing and pursuit teams to develop compelling materials that support both pre-positioning and active pursuits
• Provide direct project expertise and leadership on pediatric healthcare projects
• Offer design oversight, technical guidance, and thought leadership across all phases of work
• Establish and uphold processes that ensure consistent quality, innovation, and excellence across pediatric projects firmwide
• Lead teams in understanding the impact of design decisions on child and family experience, safety, clinical outcomes, staff effectiveness, and operational performance
• Support client relationship management and guide teams in achieving project goals, schedules, and expectations
• Provide strategic problem solving and leadership support as project needs arise

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or closely related field
• A minimum of 12 years industry experience including leadership
• Experience in pediatric health projects as a subject matter expert
• Registered Architect
• Familiar with current trends in pediatric healthcare delivery
• Experience in successfully developing and executing targeted market and client strategies
• Desire to work towards the integration of holistic sustainable processes into design projects at early design stages
• Experience and understanding of basic building physics, low carbon materials and high-performance design strategies
• Advanced credentialing desired (e.g. ACHA, LEED, EDAC, etc)

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong skills in client management, client development and a documented history of growing/leading a practice
• Strong business skills; specifically handling budgets, staff and operational issues
• Ability to analyze the marketplace and strategically position HDR

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement.

Pay

Expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location.

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Business Class

Architecture

Job Posting

May 8, 2026

Company Beliefs

We are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.