Project Design Leader

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the overall architectural design of projects from programming through construction.
• Partner with clients and stakeholders to establish project vision, design goals, and success metrics.
• Lead programming efforts to understand operational needs, user experience, workflow, and space requirements.
• Develop planning concepts including adjacency studies, block and stack diagrams, test fits, and conceptual floor plans that optimize operational performance and flexibility.
• Create innovative architectural concepts that balance design excellence, functionality, constructability, sustainability, schedule, and budget.
• Champion design quality throughout the project while preserving design intent during documentation and construction.
• Guide projects through Programming, Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration.
• Build trusted relationships with clients as their primary design advisor.
• Lead visioning sessions, programming meetings, design thinking workshops, charrettes, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Present design concepts confidently to executive leadership, user groups, public agencies, and project stakeholders.
• Translate complex design ideas into compelling visual presentations and clear design narratives.
• Facilitate decision-making and maintain project momentum through effective communication and collaboration.
• Lead multidisciplinary design teams consisting of architects, interior designers, engineers, planners, and specialized subject matter experts.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers to balance design excellence with project scope, budget, and schedule.
• Mentor designers and architects while fostering creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in internal design reviews and contribute to a culture of design excellence across the firm.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership related to:
• Building envelope systems
• Building codes and life safety
• Accessibility requirements
• Constructability
• Building systems integration
• Material selection and detailing

Design Communication & Visualization

• Produce compelling renderings, diagrams, presentations, and visual storytelling materials.
• Develop graphics that effectively communicate programming, planning, and design solutions.
• Leverage technology to enhance client engagement and design decision-making.

Educational and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture from an accredited program.
• Licensed Architect preferred.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible architectural design experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design of complex commercial, industrial, institutional, or aviation projects from programming through construction.
• Proven experience conducting architectural programming and translating client objectives into innovative planning solutions.
• Strong experience developing:
• Programming documents
• Block and stack diagrams
• Adjacency studies
• Test fits.
• Space planning solutions
• Conceptual floor plans
• Exterior architectural design
• Building massing and façade development

Technical Skills

• Required proficiency with:
• Autodesk Revit
• Enscape or comparable real-time visualization software
• Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat)
• Bluebeam Revu
• Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience delivering projects using the Design-Build delivery method.
• Experience facilitating design thinking workshops, visioning sessions, and collaborative charrettes
• LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), WELL AP, or similar credential.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, public agencies, and large stakeholder groups.

Physical Requirements

• The work is semi-sedentary work and requires the ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Manual dexterity, hearing, mental acuity, typing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, talking, and visual acuity.
• Ability to navigate and move around the construction site, which may involve walking, climbing ladders, and standing for extended periods on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to stand and sit for periods longer than 30 minutes but not to exceed two hours consecutively.
• Ability to control behavior when encountering stressful situations or short deadlines and to maintain a high level of concentration.
• Ability to print and draw letters, numbers, words, characters, and symbols that are legible and understood by others.
• Ability to learn complex tasks and remember how to complete tasks without assistance once trained.