Sector Leader - Mission Critical

HED is seeking an experienced professional with a background in architecture and/or engineering to lead the Mission Critical sector, focusing on data center projects. This role ensures the health of the entire project portfolio for the sector and represents client requirements to project teams.

About HED

We are a team driven by ideas, experience, creativity, and passion. Our culture embraces aspiration, change, and challenges, fostering continual learning and collective growth. As an inclusive, integrated architecture and engineering practice, we value diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise that advance both our work and the world we share.

Responsibilities

• Act as the client advocate and bridge to the project team to ensure all requirements are represented.
• Assist project managers with up-front planning to deliver quality documents within established budgets and performance objectives.
• Ensure project managers follow the HED design process, including completion of quality review milestones.
• Monitor financial performance of sector projects and provide guidance when goals are not met.
• Evaluate sector workload, staff assignments, project planning, and quality assurance.
• Coordinate with business and operations leaders to share project workload and staffing resources across sectors.
• Serve as the sector representative for jobsite and client-related emergencies in partnership with the business leader.
• Mentor project managers and team members as needed.
• Oversee sector business activities, including client and project commitments, in coordination with other sector leaders.
• Facilitate sector growth and development efforts to establish a strong presence across locations.
• Oversee principal-in-charge project activities, including proposal/contract development, service delivery requirements, hour allocations, team structure, and profit goals.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the company with prospective clients, professional organizations, and the public.
• Assist in identifying a core team of technical experts within each discipline to service clients and provide sector-specific expertise.
• Represent the company as principal-in-charge on select projects and provide direct billable services to meet chargeability goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering (required).
• Professional licensure or board-approved certification (required).
• Minimum 15 years of professional experience, with at least five years in Data Center design.
• LEED accreditation (preferred).
• Understanding of the data center sector, strong client relationship skills, and business acumen.
• Extensive knowledge of professional services from marketing through project close-out, including design and technical expertise.
• Ability to motivate teams, develop teamwork, and work well under deadlines.
• Excellent writing, speaking, and organizational skills.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, enthusiastic, and flexible.
• Strong leadership, integrity, and ability to influence at a senior level.
• Capable of performing all duties of a project manager.
• Computer literate.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of computer use and active participation in collaborative sessions.
• Frequent verbal, virtual, and written communication.
• Regular travel for client meetings, project reviews, and industry events.

Work Environment

We embrace a hybrid model that promotes autonomy and collaboration. In-office presence supports mentoring, creative dialogue, and collective innovation. Sector Leaders are expected to actively contribute to firm culture and thought leadership through in-person engagement.

Other Duties

This description outlines primary responsibilities but is not exhaustive. Responsibilities may evolve with changing sector goals, project needs, and firm-wide priorities.