Practice Design Director - Facades

Overview:

Responsibilities:

Accountable for:

• Improvement in Facade design quality across the firm
• Building and enhancing a culture of Facade design and technical excellence at HKS
• Design quality in their practice, holding Design Leaders, Technical Leaders, and project teams in their respective practice accountable for design quality
• Implements Design and Technical Excellence within their practice, ensuring that the Framework for Design Excellence is addressed in every project in the practice
• Promotes innovation in facade design quality, technical excellence, materials research, and digital delivery, with a core emphasis on energy, carbon, and human factors performance
• Integrating physical prototyping into the design process and delivery of innovative facades
• Mentorship of Facades practice team members, design teams, other designers, and other technical leaders.
• Collaborates with Executive, Regional and Practice Leadership to ensure a constant focus on design quality

Has authority to:

• See, evaluate, and provide feedback to all projects in the practice
• Challenge project vision, guiding principles, narratives and technical solutions to ensure design quality
• Recommend to the Sector/Practice Leader, and PIC when a project should be redirected as it is not performing to the level that HKS requires
• Evaluate performance of Facades Practice team members in collaboration with the Studio Practice Leader

Scope:

• Collaborates with studio, office and regional leadership to further the strategic goals of the firm and sector
• Develops and implements processes and resources to improve technical quality of facade work in collaboration with Design Leadership and Technical Leadership.
• Promotes the implementation of quarterly project pin-ups, critiques, or summits to review work within the practice, enable continuous improvement, and build dialogue across the firm.
• Acts as a facade design and technical go-to resource to Design Leaders and Technical Leaders across the firm.
• Collaborates with Technical Resources Group (TRG) and Practice Technology (PT) on improvement of current processes, or development of new processes.
• Provides oversight on project documentation with respect to the facade and building enclosure detailing, coordination, materials, systems assemblies, procurement strategy, and structural, thermal, energy, and human factors engineering and analysis.
• Integrates internal HKS resources (TRG, Design Green, LINE, PT) whenever possible on projects
• Actively ensures that sustainability and regenerative design is integrated into the project design and technical methodology for all projects within their purview
• Actively promotes and oversees that projects understand the importance of quality documentation (Quality Assurance) and comply with HKS's Quality Management system
• Ensures project teams develop measures that can be evaluated during all stages of the project for the Design Enterprise standards of integration, innovation, and impact
• Guides, advises and mentors other designers on project work through all phases, developing design direction and leading critiques as the teams develop the vision and goals and measures for project success
• Collaborates on the initial marketing stages throughout completion of construction and installation, including programming client needs, conceptual and schematic design, design development, construction documents, construction administration and management of schedules and budgets
• Develops overall design concepts and design presentation strategies in collaboration with project team
• Works directly with the client, team members and a wide range of consultants and collaborators both internal and external throughout the life of respective projects
• Assists in managing client expectations, team communication and consultant coordination
• Collaborates with other leaders across the firm to enhance the culture for design excellence, elevate the quality of design and achieve recognition for clients and the firm
• Promotes an interdisciplinary design approach and philosophy and facilitate its advancement on projects and across the firm
• Engages with project managers, technical and conceptual teams, and consultants to evaluate and improve the quality of project work across the firm
• Acts as one of the primary interfaces with clients as needed, often in conjunction with the Studio Design Leaders, Studio Practice Leaders and/or Studio Practice Managers
• Operates with "ONE Firm" mindset, minimizes the sector and operational variables between offices in the global practice
• Ensures the integration of HKS services, expertise and innovation in all projects, while actively seeking opportunities to incorporate HKS best practices, sustainable design solutions, subject matter expertise and resources strategically and efficiently for the client, user and community
• Exercises skills of persuasion and negotiation on critical issues

Cultural:

• Collaborates on the development and maintenance of the global practice culture and endeavors to demonstrate HKS values within the global practice
• Helps nurture and guide the design and technical leadership of staff within the global practice in multiple roles
• Models and holds others accountable to the firm's cultural values, including a commitment to quality, innovation, learning and growth
• Oversees and actively invests in the professional development of staff through mentoring, performance management and career planning
• Supports efforts of studio leaders and Office Directors in attracting, training, retaining, growing, and recognizing diverse talent
• Manages conflict effectively and encourages a healthy team environment
• Helps maintain mission-ready teams through continuous staff evaluations and works with studio leaders, Global Practice Director, Office Directors and Regional Directors to identify areas for improvement
• Fosters and maintains a collaborative professional working relationship with teams, including promoting communication and creating approachability
• Actively promotes and incorporates the firm's principles of Design and Technical Excellence through the integration of responsible and sustainable design practices with the art of design

Financial:

• Collaborates with Studio Practice Leader, Global Practice Director, and Global Sector Director to set yearly budgets and forecasts for the global practice
• Stays knowledgeable of the financial performance of the practice throughout the year including oversight of overhead expenses, accounts receivable, pipeline and backlog and works with Studio Practice Leader, Global Practice Director, and Global Sector Director to maintain the execution of the plan
• Applies skills to minimize risks, maximize value and seeks means to improve efficiencies and reduce costs

Revenue or Opportunity Generation:

• Assists and supports Studio Practice Leader, Global Practice Director in new business development and marketing strategies, including looking for opportunities for repeat work with clients
• Assists in and stays aware of development of fee proposals for marketing proposals
• Creates visibility for respective practice for future design work through strong existing and potential client relationships
• Collaborates and strategizes with business development and other regional and sector leadership on marketing efforts and industry events to maintain existing client relationships, establish new business and maintain a strong voice in the industry
• Maintains current understanding of the trends, influences, and pressures within respective regional practice and assists office and regions to devise strategies to grow the regional practice
• Creates and maintains visibility for HKS globally, to be considered for significant project selections and development of pertinent content demonstrating leadership and thought leadership
• Positions HKS for future design work through strong client relationships, and up-front planning and consulting assignments that reinforce HKS's thought leadership capabilities
• Where appropriate, engages and networks with local community to elevate HKS's role in the business community on behalf of the practice
• Actively participates with time and resources in leadership roles within professional organizations that focus on the practice's priorities and/or local communities and client's common good

Qualifications:

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related degree for respective field, or relevant years in education or experience
• Licensure or certification in chosen field required
• Typically, 20+ years of experience, including experience in a leadership role
• Sustainable design accreditation preferred
• Advanced knowledge of project design, construction documentation, and construction materials
• Advanced knowledge of synthesizing trans-disciplinary design drivers for facades
• Advanced knowledge of enclosure systems and QA/QC process
• Advanced knowledge of building codes, design standards, constructability, and market procurement
• Proficiency in Revit preferred
• Awareness of Rhino, Sketchup or other 3d modelling software
• Awareness of scripting and parametric modeling software such as Grasshopper, Ladybug, Dynamo, Python, C# preferred
• Awareness of thermal analysis software such as LBNL Window, LBNL Therm, LBNL Optics, WUFI, WUFI Mould Index VTT preferred
• Awareness of optical, lighting, and daylighting design software such as RADIANCE, Climate Studio, EVALGLARE, Accelerad, Ladybug Tools, ALFA, Lark preferred
• Awareness of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign graphic software preferred
• Awareness of energy modeling tools such as Energy Plus, Design Builder, IES VE preferred
• Awareness of structural analysis software such as Strand, Solidworks, SJ Mepla, Ansys Mech preferred
• Familiarity in the functionality of Vision
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Proficiency in logistics management including connecting people and resources to the right place at the right time
• Successful track record in directing and providing leadership for design and technical delivery teams through all stages of project pursuit, design, and delivery
• Successful track record and success in building, nurturing and fostering new client relationships
• Excellent presentation skills
• Strong leadership, organization, communication and relationship management skills
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
• Ability to provide critical design review to project teams, communicating design ideas and direction quickly
• Ability to provide critical technical design review to project teams, communicating technical ideas and direction quickly
• Ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing
• Ability to problem solve and apply innovative solutions
• Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment
• Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality

Travel will be required.

If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal.

HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran