Client Leader, Higher Education

DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place.

DLR Group's Design team has an opening for a Client Leader for Higher Education in our Houston studio.

About Higher Education at DLR Group:

DLR Group’s Higher Education practice fully embraces our responsibility to society by designing spaces that emphasize academic learning and social development. We are transforming the educational landscape, working with our clients to set new horizons for learning and living that enrich school communities, the spaces they strive to provide, and what they can achieve. Our team draws from evidence-based design to work with shareholders to affect student and teacher engagement, ensuring that learning is enhanced through design. We also understand the rapid pace of technological, social, and cultural change; our teams work with schools to navigate these challenges.

Position Summary

As a Client Leader at DLR Group, you will be responsible for leading and growing our client relationships and projects for Higher Education in Texas. As a part of an integrated design team, you will participate in the creation of buildings that elevate the human experience through design.

You will be responsible for taking initiative to discover new and untapped opportunities in the region, while maintaining close contact with clients during active projects, including leading contract negotiations and educating the client on our design process. In addition, you’ll partner with project managers to ensure the financial health and successful execution of projects to drive revenue generation for the sector.

You will work in partnership with the Higher Education Texas Regional Sector Leader and the talented design professionals nation-wide to lead the pursuit strategy, project award, and the implementation of planning and design excellence in support of our client’s mission.

What you will do:

• Act as a growth agent for DLR Group within the Higher Education community, visible in speaking events, writing, and other activities to amplify DLR Group’s design voice
• Provide innovative thinking about project approach and delivery
• Create an environment that encourages and supports teams and institutions to explore creative design solutions
• Be a leader who champions equity for a wide spectrum of individuals within the region and across the Higher Education practice
• Have an appreciation and passion for participating in and leading an integrated design team
• Be committed to the inclusion and respect of all voices throughout the design and execution of projects—demonstrating the value and impact of comprehensive engagement in the design and planning process
• Attend industry events, business development events, interviews, and client meetings
• Collaborate with the Project Manager and project team to develop and adhere to the project work plan and schedule
• Lead the contract negotiations and approve all contract changes, ensure timely processing of invoices, and engage client for prompt payment
• Mentor team members and participate in hiring, training, and onboarding of new team members
• Participate in in-house training activities to further develop your skills and abilities

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Interior Design, or equivalent (professional licensure preferred)
• Demonstrated experience in a client-facing role for multiple Higher Education projects
• A minimum of 15 years of experience leading the pursuit, planning, and design of Higher Education projects and a team of design professionals
• Keen understanding of the Higher Education community and what is forefront in the minds of institutions
• Ability to work both independently and effectively in a cross-disciplinary team atmosphere and across multiple offices and regions
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills and be an enthusiastic team player and leader
• Strong leadership skills with design teams, clients, and projects
• Ability to travel as the team and projects require

*TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE SUBMIT CURRENT PORTFOLIO/WORK SAMPLES IN PDF FORMAT*

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DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new b