Design Director - Architecture - Aviation

Company: HNTB Corporation
Location: Atlanta
Posted on: February 15, 2025

Job Description:

What We're Looking ForAt 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. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.This opportunity entails being responsible for achieving the firm's design goals by providing leadership, creativity, and mentorship throughout the practice. This role establishes foundational design goals and values serving select market sectors or specialized discipline in support of firmwide philosophy, values, and principles governed by the Chief Design Officer and other practice-wide leadership. This role serves as a primary source of leadership and accountability for the consistency, quality and innovation within the role's market and/or discipline focus. Design Directors also foster a positive creative culture across all studios and with clients to ensure the delivery of high-quality design work across the organization.

• Define and lead the vision for client-centered design in airport and airline facilities.
• Develop strategies for cohesive and scalable design across major and regional aviation projects.
• Champion passenger experience enhancements in terminal design.
• Emphasize the integration of technology and sustainability within aviation projects.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver future-ready aviation infrastructure.
• Drive design solutions that balance operational efficiency with aesthetic excellence.
• Support the advancement of airport planning and terminal flow design strategies.
• Lead initiatives to redefine the traveler experience through innovative spatial design.
• Promote the firm's reputation in aviation design through strategic outreach and industry thought leadership.What You'll Do:
  • Works in conjunction with each Office Design Leader to coordinate and produce a consistently high quality design product achieving HNTB's 4 for 4 standards (Consistent delivery of quality work, on time, on budget and to the client's satisfaction on every project).
  • Instills a design culture of excellence by conducting regular project design reviews within all offices to ensure project design performance.
  • Leads the development and implementation of the activities of the National Design Committee.
  • Provides HNTB an active link to academia through studio and advisory council participation.
  • Represents HNTB at the national level within professional and design societies.
  • Works closely with Officers by representing design with strategic planning framework.
  • Assists Office Leaders in the hiring, supervision, development and evaluation of the design staff throughout the organization.
  • Actively participates in the development and presentation of pursuit strategies across all market sectors within the firm.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.What You'll Need:
    • Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or Planning as appropriate to the specific core practice and 15 years of experience in progressively responsible positions, ideally with a large, multi-discipline firm.
    • 10 years' experience in design of complex projects.Essential Functions:
    • Support and maintain foundational design philosophy, values, and principles applicable across all markets, ensuring alignment with the firm's goals and strategies.
    • 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 (quality, on time, on budget, and client satisfaction).
    • Facilitate regular design reviews to ensure project performance and encourage a positive creative culture within the roles market focus.
    • 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 to differentiate client services within the market or discipline focus area.
    • Represent the firm at the national and international level within professional societies, conferences, and media outlets to enhance its design reputation.
    • Actively participate in pursuit strategies and interviews for large-scale projects across all market sectors, ensuring the firm's design excellence is evident.
    • Mentor and supervise design staff to attract, develop, and retain talented professionals, contributing to the growth of the design culture.
    • Collaborate with business development teams to maximize quality design reputation and align strategies with client and market needs.
    • 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 to facilitate a proper design oversight.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.Competencies:
        • 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.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.Additional InformationVisa sponsorship is not available for this position.Job Type: RegularFull/Part Time: Full timeJob Category: Architecture GroupReqID: R-24782
          #J-18808-Ljbffr

Keywords: HNTB Corporation, Atlanta , Design Director - Architecture - Aviation, Executive , Atlanta, Georgia