National Design Director - Sports Performance

About the Role

At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. This opportunity entails providing leadership, creativity, and mentorship to achieve the firm’s design goals, establishing foundational design values for select market sectors or specialized disciplines.

This role serves as a primary source of leadership and accountability for consistency, quality, and innovation within its market and/or discipline focus. Design Directors foster a positive creative culture across all studios and with clients to ensure the delivery of high-quality design work.

Responsibilities

• Define the vision and quality standards for innovative sports performance and training facilities.
• Advocate for athlete-centered design solutions that enhance performance, recovery, and well-being.
• Integrate cutting-edge sports science and technology into facility designs.
• Collaborate with coaches and performance experts to align design with athletic needs.
• Shape multipurpose training environments that balance functionality and aesthetics.
• Promote sustainable and health-focused design elements in training facilities.
• Guide the creation of spaces such as weight rooms, locker rooms, and recovery areas.
• Develop strategies for adaptable and future-ready training environments.
• Lead thought leadership in trends such as data-driven training and recovery-focused spaces.
• Represent the firm’s expertise in sports performance design through industry engagement.
• Ensure designs reflect team identity and foster pride among athletes and staff.
• Emphasize the role of research and innovation in creating next-generation facilities.
• Shape holistic environments that enhance athlete, staff, and community experiences.
• Work in conjunction with each Office Design Leader to coordinate and produce a consistently high-quality design product, achieving HNTB's "4 for 4" standards (quality work, on time, on budget, and to the client's satisfaction).
• Instill a design culture of excellence by conducting regular project design reviews within all offices.
• Lead the development and implementation of the activities of the National Design Committee.
• Provide HNTB an active link to academia through studio and advisory council participation.
• Represent HNTB at the national level within professional and design societies.
• Work closely with Officers by representing design within the strategic planning framework.
• Assist Office Leaders in the hiring, supervision, development, and evaluation of design staff.
• Actively participate in the development and presentation of pursuit strategies across all market sectors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or Planning, with 15 years of experience in progressively responsible positions, ideally with a large, multi-discipline firm.
• 10 years’ experience in the design of complex projects.
• Support and maintain foundational design philosophy, values, and principles applicable across all markets.
• Coordinate with the Chief Design Officer and Office Design Leaders to deliver a consistently high-quality design product, achieving the firm’s "4 for 4" standards.
• Facilitate regular design reviews to ensure project performance and encourage a positive creative culture.
• Participate in the National Design Council to develop and implement firm-wide design strategies and initiatives.
• Maintain strong relationships with academia, industry partners, and professional organizations to foster thought leadership and design research.
• Oversee the implementation of investment strategies in design research, technology, sustainability, and marketing.
• Represent the firm at the national and international level within professional societies, conferences, and media outlets.
• Actively participate in pursuit strategies and interviews for large-scale projects.
• Mentor and supervise design staff to attract, develop, and retain talented professionals.
• Collaborate with business development teams to maximize quality design reputation.
• Drive recruitment strategies focused on artistic talent and technical capability.
• Ensure the integration of visual and physical branding in partnership with marketing teams and the Chief Design Officer.
• Provide strategic direction on large-scale project activities, including design vision, implementation, and team oversight.
• Ensure all pursuits and active assignments have a designated designer with sufficient time in the workplan.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Architecture or related field.
• 20+ years of experience, including leadership roles.
• Professional registration (AIA, NCARB, etc.) in good standing.
• Recognized industry thought leader with a robust network of professional relationships.
• Extensive network of professional relationships within the architecture and design industry.

Skills

• Proven experience in the design of major projects with a strong track record of success.
• Exceptional leadership and mentorship skills.
• Advanced client relationship and management capabilities.
• Strategic thinking and operational planning expertise.
• Ability to align design culture with firm-wide goals and strategies.
• Strong diplomatic and storytelling skills focused on leading clients towards expected and unexpected outcomes.

Schedule

Travel Requirements: 25%-50% as needed to support design efforts and business development.

Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in an office environment, with occasional site visits or attendance at client meetings and industry events.