Civic Principal

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR in Vancouver is seeking a Civic + Community Principal to establish and grow HDR's Civic practice across British Columbia and Alberta. This leadership role focuses on diversifying the Western Canada practice into municipal, regional district, public safety, Indigenous-led and community-focused sectors, while building enduring relationships with key public-sector clients and partners.

The successful candidate will drive strategic market leadership, business development, and major project

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture is required.
• 15 years related experience required.
• Minimum 7 years project management experience.
• Must be a Registered Architect.
• Experience leading large-scale civic/community projects.
• Ability to lead a team and present to clients.

Responsibilities

• Establish and execute the vision, strategy, and growth objectives for HDR's Civic + Community practice across BC and Alberta.
• Lead business development, client engagement, and pursuit efforts for major civic opportunities.
• Provide executive oversight for project performance, quality, and financial results.
• Mentor Civic practice leaders and collaborate with HDR leadership on growth strategies.
• Travel throughout BC and Alberta, occasionally across North America.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Business development

Client relationship management

Public-sector procurement

Team leadership

Presentation skills

Travel readiness

Indigenous partnerships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Registered Architect

Job description

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 foster a culture of inclusion throughout our 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.

HDR is seeking a strategic and client-focused Civic + Community Principal to establish and grow our Civic practice across Vancouver and British Columbia. Reporting to the Regional Civic Director, Western Canada Architecture, this leadership role is central to our strategy of diversifying and growing HDR's Western Canada practice into municipal, regional district, public safety, Indigenous-led and community-focused sectors, while building enduring relationships with key public-sector clients and industry partners.

The successful candidate, in partnership with the Western Canada Civic Director, will provide strategic market leadership, drive business development and client engagement initiatives, lead major pursuits and civic project delivery efforts, and mentor the next generation of civic leaders in Western Canada. This individual will serve as a visible ambassador, for HDR across the Western Canada civic marketplace and play a critical role in shaping the long‑term growth strategy of the Civic + Community practice across the region, including collaboration with our Calgary studio on Alberta opportunities.

The Civic + Community Principal will collaborate closely with architecture, engineering, planning, and leaders across HDR to deliver integrated solutions that help communities thrive, and will uphold HDR's standards for project excellence, consistency and design quality on every commission.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Establish and execute the vision, strategy, and growth objectives for HDR's Civic + Community practice across BC and Alberta.
• Lead efforts to achieve annual business performance goals, including net fee bookings, revenue growth, profitability, and market expansion.
• Identify emerging opportunities within municipal, provincial, developer, justice, public and community project typologies.
• Position HDR as a leading civic and community design and consulting partner throughout Western Canda.
• Represent HDR through leadership roles in professional organizations, industry associations, conferences, and community engagement initiatives.

Client Development and Market Growth

• Develop and maintain executive‑level relationships with key public‑sector clients, elected officials, agency leaders, and industry partners.
• Lead strategic client account planning, capture planning, and pursuit efforts for major civic opportunities.
• Direct proposal development, interview preparation, and pursuit strategies for high‑profile projects.
• Collaborate with local, regional, and national leadership to identify and secure transformational project opportunities.
• Expand HDR's visibility and reputation across the Western Canda civic marketplace through thought leadership and community engagement.
• Maintain a strong network of consultants, contractors, developers, and industry stakeholders to support market intelligence and strategic growth.

Project Leadership and Delivery

• Serve as Principal‑in‑Charge, Executive Sponsor, Project Director, or similar leadership role on key civic projects.
• Provide executive oversight for project performance, quality, client satisfaction, risk management, and financial results.
• Support project teams in contract negotiations, project planning, staffing, and delivery strategies.
• Ensure project execution aligns with HDR's standards for design excellence, innovation, quality, and operational performance.
• Promote collaboration across disciplines to deliver comprehensive solutions that address clients' evolving needs.

Team Leadership and Practice Development

• Mentor and develop Civic practice leaders and emerging professionals throughout Western Canada.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and client service excellence.
• Support recruiting, retention, succession planning, and workforce development initiatives.
• Collaborate with regional and national Civic leadership on practice advancement strategies and knowledge‑sharing initiatives.
• Contribute to or lead interview strategies and implementation.
• Interface with clients proactively, by engaging them regularly through multiple channels.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to Civic/Community staff and project teams.
• Champion HDR's design excellence, sustainability, resilience, and community‑focused design initiatives.

Business Operations

• Lead business planning, forecasting, resource management, and strategic investment decisions for the Civic sector.
• Participate in Go/No‑Go evaluations, risk management reviews, fee approvals, contract negotiations, and major pursuit decisions.
• Support CRM management, pipeline development, and strategic opportunity tracking.
• Coordinate with regional and national leadership to achieve long‑term business objectives.
• Travel throughout BC and Alberta, occasionally across North America.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of winning and delivering significant civic, justice, public safety, municipal, province, or community-focused projects.
• Demonstrated success in business development, client management, and market growth.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex project pursuits.
• Strong understanding of British Columbia public‑sector procurement processes and project delivery methods.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Established relationships with Vancouver developers, public‑sector agencies, as well as municipal, regional and provincial clients and institutions.
• Experience serving as Principal‑in‑Charge or similar on large‑scale civic and community projects.
• Active participation in AIBC, UDI, ULI or similar professional organizations and Indigenous partnership networks.
• Strong understanding of regional and provincial sustainability, resilience, and public infrastructure initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture
• 15 years related experience
• A minimum 7 years project management experience
• Registered Architect
• Must have experience on large‑scale projects
• Must be able to lead a team on projects and make client presentations
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project)
• Extensive knowledge and experience within the local and regional market
• Strong team leadership, mentoring, motivational/organizational and people skills
• Desire to work towards the integration of holistic sustainable processes into design projects at early design stages
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be willing to travel
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must

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.

At HDR, the health and safety of our employees is of the upmost importance. In accordance with local safety, health, and environmental legislation, HDR is committed to developing, maintaining, and enforcing proactive safe work policies, procedures, and standards.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and other applicable legislation, we are committed to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. Candidates with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process by contacting our Human Resources team.

HDR is a certified Living Wage Employer in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Primary Location

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Civic ARC

Job Posting

Oct 2, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employe r.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.

We design solutions to the world's greatest challenges. We'realways looking for great talent to join our global teams.