Architecture Practice Design Manager
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We believe architecture is more than designing buildings, it’s about providing solutions to societal challenges and creating stronger, more vibrant communities. As part of our Architecture practice at HDR, you’ll contribute to the design and delivery of spaces and experiences that advance community well-being around the world. From healing environments and learning spaces to research labs and civic landmarks and infrastructure, your work will directly influence how individuals experience the world around them. We bring together architects, planners, designers, and technical experts to solve complex design challenges with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. From championing design excellence with an emphasis on resilience and sustainability to pioneering innovative building technologies, your contributions will leave a lasting impact on the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive meaningful change and help define the future of our communities.
The Architecture Practice Design Manager serves as a strategic implementation partner to the Architecture Practice Design Director, helping translate design vision into coordinated action across HDR’s multidisciplinary design practice. As design leadership for architecture, interiors, UDPLA, and sustainable design is integrated under the Architecture Practice Design organization, this role helps advance a more connected and influential design practice across disciplines, sectors, regions, and business groups.
Working closely with the Architecture Practice Design Director and leaders across these areas, the Design Manager helps organize priorities, align internal partners, develop implementation plans, and support the execution of key initiatives that strengthen design excellence and innovation. The role also helps communicate the value of design internally and externally, increasing the visibility, impact, and recognition of HDR’s people, projects, and design expertise throughout the firm and across the industry.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Integration
The Design Manager works closely with the Architecture Practice Design Director to help organize, implement, and track design priorities across HDR's multidisciplinary design organization. This role coordinates initiatives across disciplines, regions, sectors, and business groups and helps ensure priorities move from discussion to implementation.
Responsibilities
• Work with the Architecture Practice Design Director to develop implementation plans for design initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Coordinate activities and communication across architecture, interiors, UDPLA, sustainable design, planning, and related disciplines.
• Prepare presentation materials and meeting agendas for leadership meetings and major initiatives.
• Track progress on key initiatives and identify issues, delays, or decisions requiring leadership attention.
• Coordinate follow-up actions resulting from leadership discussions, design meetings, and strategic initiatives.
• Maintain awareness of priorities, responsibilities, and activities across the Design Leadership team.
• Prepare leadership reports, board reports, presentations, and recurring updates.
Design Excellence & Program Development
The Design Manager helps cultivate a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and design excellence across HDR's design community. By creating opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and meaningful dialogue, this role supports the advancement of design quality and the exchange of ideas across disciplines and regions.
Responsibilities
• Coordinate design boot camps, retreats, workshops, design reviews, and other learning programs.
• Organize cross-disciplinary meetings and forums that support collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Develop agendas, discussion topics, and follow-up actions for design programs and events.
• Coordinate internal communications related to design initiatives and programs.
• Support onboarding activities and communications for new members of the design organization.
Industry Visibility, Recognition & Thought Leadership
The Design Manager coordinates programs that increase awareness of HDR's design work and supports participation in industry events, awards programs, and thought leadership activities.
Responsibilities
• Develop and manage the design awards process.
• Evaluate award opportunities and recommend projects and initiatives for submission.
• Coordinate award submissions with project teams, design leaders, AMS, communications teams, and pursuit professionals.
• Track award results and maintain records of submissions, recognition, and outcomes.
• Coordinate participation in conferences, industry organizations, speaking engagements, and thought leadership opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to showcase HDR's design work, people, and expertise externally.
Communications, Storytelling & Leadership Operations
The Design Manager coordinates communications, storytelling, reporting, and operational activities that support Design Leadership and help communicate the value of HDR's design work.
Responsibilities
• Work with AMS, Communications, and Design Leadership to develop design-related communications and storytelling content.
• Coordinate project stories, photography, case studies, award narratives, and presentation materials.
• Maintain processes for sharing design achievements internally and externally.
• Coordinate leadership meetings, agendas, and follow-up actions.
• Coordinate new-hire announcements, onboarding, and other internal communications for the design organization.
• Support budget tracking, event coordination, and other administrative activities related to design programs and initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor of Communication, Journalism, Marketing, Architecture or Design is preferred.
Ability to travel.
Prior experience with AE industry strategy, development, budgeting and promotion
Commitment to promoting design excellence across all disciplines.
*LI-SA1
- A minimum of 5 years relevant industry experience
- Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight
- Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry's standard approach to procurement of professional services
- Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including InDesign
- Demonstrated experience in winning high-value contracts in the A/E/C industry
- Demonstrated experience in writing compelling content based on information from technical staff
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
