Regional Practice Leader - Transit & Transportation Architecture

About the role

The role is fundamentally about regional market leadership: building trust with public-sector clients and transit agencies, influencing decision-makers, and guiding strategic pursuits—while maintaining rigorous standards for delivery and stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive a regional strategic business plan for transit architecture in collaboration with the Firmwide Practice Leader, Regional Director, Studio Managing Directors, and Studio Practice Leaders.
• Guide studios in shaping Strategic Action Plans (SAPs), sales strategies, and investment priorities aligned with firmwide objectives.
• Lead client engagement, business development, and strategic pursuits, including capture planning, teaming strategies, and execution.
• Make informed go/no-go decisions and shape long-term account strategies to grow a sustainable regional practice.
• Provide senior leadership and accountability on select transit and transportation projects from concept through construction and, where applicable, operations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, bringing sound business judgment and strategic oversight to complex projects.
• Ensure excellence in design quality, client experience, financial performance, and risk management.
• Work closely with Design Principals, Project Managers, and technical leaders to translate practice vision into successful project outcomes.
• Partner with studio and regional leadership on strategic hiring, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Leverage regional talent effectively across pursuits and project delivery.
• Mentor emerging leaders and strengthen the regional leadership bench, building a diverse and sustainable talent pipeline.
• Advance Perkins&Will’s leadership in transit and transportation architecture through insights on industry trends, innovation, sustainability, and equity.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Practice Leaders to elevate thought leadership, exemplar work, and individual expertise through external communications and media.
• Foster collaboration, shared learning, and alignment across studios and with other Regional Practice Leaders.
• Champion a culture of Living Design excellence and innovation, ensuring the firm’s values are embedded across pursuits, projects, and public engagement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in transportation architecture.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture.
• Active architectural licensure in the state of California.
• Proven record of growing and leading a high-impact transportation architecture practice, including winning work and shaping markets.
• Strong network of relationships with transit agencies, partners, and community stakeholders in the US West.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance long-term vision and near-term execution.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.