Architecture Practice Design Manager

HDR; Pennington (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

HDR is seeking an Architecture Practice Design Manager to translate design vision into coordinated action across HDR’s multidisciplinary practice. You will partner with the Architecture Practice Design Director to drive priorities across architecture, interiors, UDPLA, and sustainability, ensuring design initiatives move from concept to execution.

You will coordinate programs, shape communications, and advocate design excellence while supporting onboarding, events, and leadership updates across

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrated self-starter with ability to complete 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 MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign).
• Experience in winning high-value contracts in the A/E/C industry.
• Demonstrated experience in writing compelling content based on information from technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate implementation plans for design initiatives with the Design Director.
• Organize cross-disciplinary meetings across disciplines, regions, and business groups.
• Prepare leadership reports, board materials, and recurring updates.
• Track progress and identify issues needing leadership attention.
• Coordinate design programs, events, and internal communications.

Skills

Communication

Self-starter

Proposal writing

Sales

Travel

Education

Bachelor degree in Communication, Journalism, Marketing, Architecture or Design

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign)

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 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

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.

Key Responsibilities

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.

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Integration

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.

Required Qualifications

• 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. We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Anticipated Pay: $100,000-150,000 Primary Location: United States-Nebraska-Omaha Other Locations: United States-California-Los Angeles, United States-California-San Francisco, United States-New York-New York, United States-Washington-Seattle, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Virginia-Arlington, United States-New Jersey-Pennington, United States-Illinois-Chicago Industry: Architecture Schedule: Full-time Employee Status: Regular BusinessClass: Marketing and Admin Job Posting: Aug 26, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Afforditive Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.