Design Leader | Architecture | Higher Ed

BHDP Architecture; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Disability insurance

Paid holidays

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Job summary

BHDP Architecture in Raleigh, NC seeks a Design Leader to set and sustain design excellence across a market portfolio. You will establish vision, standards, and decisions to guide outcomes, align leadership across pursuits, and ensure high‑quality, measurable results.

You will build trust with clients, advance external engagement, and guide design across all project phases. The role requires senior leadership, strategic thinking, and a collaborative approach to elevate BHDP’s design value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Architecture degree (NAAB accredited program preferred).
• 25+ years in the design and/or architecture industry.
• Architectural License.
• Advanced Revit knowledge – independently deliver defined drawing packages/projects and teach others on best practice.
• Advanced knowledge of SketchUp, Enscape, or Lumion.
• Advanced experience with Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Demonstrated capability to delegate, coach, and raise team performance.
• Demonstrated initiative; sees challenges as opportunities.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration within a team.
• Campus Master Planning experience.

Responsibilities

• Sets market/business segment specific expectations for design by establishing clear ownership and follow‑through to verified implementation, supported by repeatable practices that deliver consistent design quality within the market across all regions.
• Builds and protects BHDP’s design value by strengthening client relationships, advancing external design engagement and market expertise, and intervening early on high‑impact issues to keep pursuits, project outcomes, and reputation aligned with BHDP’s design philosophy.
• Maintains firmwide responsibilities on guiding, implementing, and positively influencing the BHDP Design Culture.
• Takes responsibility for establishing and sustaining client relationships and is recognized as the design leader for the market.
• Serves as a trusted advisor who oversees design, aligns vision, value, and quality expectations.
• Leads executive‑level design dialogue through all phases by anticipating priorities and risk, guiding critical decisions, and ensuring BHDP’s design intent and process are understood, supported, and consistently delivered.
• Represents the firm with a clear point of view, consistent quality, and disciplined follow‑through that strengthens relationships and reputation.
• Builds visibility and opportunity through targeted thought leadership, speaking/publishing, juries and awards, and strategic partner/client outreach that expands influence and drives measurable market growth.
• Showcases the ability to win work through design leadership by shaping compelling big ideas, articulating clear design value, and differentiating BHDP in pursuits and client engagements.
• Drives design value growth by translating market insight into repeatable, high‑impact approaches that strengthen client loyalty, expand opportunities, and elevate the quality and relevance of outcomes across the portfolio.
• Demonstrates accountability for defining, elevating, and consistently delivering market‑level design quality by establishing clear design principles, standards, and review expectations that reflect BHDP’s process.
• Ensures design excellence is repeatable and scalable by guiding teams through rigorous critique and decision‑making, developing talent and tools, and protecting design intent from concept through delivery.
• Leads market design capability by defining a clear point of view, elevating design solutions, and translating market insights into winning strategies and repeatable approaches.
• Leads market‑facing design excellence through thought leadership, mentoring and team development, and client engagement that grows expertise, strengthens relationships, and measurably improves project outcomes and reputation.

Skills

Design leadership

Client relationships

Team mentoring

Communication

Strategic thinking

Quality control

Market growth

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor of Architecture

Tools

Revit

SketchUp

Enscape

Lumion

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

Market: Higher-Ed

Location: Raleigh, NC

FLSA: Exempt

Work Mode: Monday – Friday; 8:00 – 5:00; In-Office Monday – Thursday; Hybrid (remote or in-office) Friday

Employment Type: Full-time

At BHDP, we believe great design does more than define spaces—it influences behavior, drives performance, and creates meaningful experiences. Guided by our purpose to Inspire People and Impact Results, By Design, we collaborate across architecture, interiors, strategy, and research to solve complex challenges in integrated ways. Here, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your work has the power to shape experiences that truly make a difference.

Role Summary

The Design Leader sets and sustains design excellence across a specific market/business segment portfolio—establishing the vision, standards, and decision‑making framework that guide design outcomes across projects and teams. This role builds client trust in BHDP’s design value, aligns design leadership across pursuits and delivery, and ensures design intent is consistently translated into high‑quality, measurable results throughout the business segment.

Responsibilities

• Sets market/business segment specific expectations for design by establishing clear ownership and follow‑through to verified implementation, supported by repeatable practices that deliver consistent design quality within the market across all regions.
• Builds and protects BHDP’s design value by strengthening client relationships, advancing external design engagement and market expertise, and intervening early on high‑impact issues to keep pursuits, project outcomes, and reputation aligned with BHDP’s design philosophy.
• Maintains firmwide responsibilities on guiding, implementing, and positively influencing the BHDP Design Culture.
• Takes responsibility for establishing and sustaining client relationships and is recognized as the design leader for the market.
• Serves as a trusted advisor who oversees design, aligns vision, value, and quality expectations.
• Leads executive‑level design dialogue through all phases by anticipating priorities and risk, guiding critical decisions, and ensuring BHDP’s design intent and process are understood, supported, and consistently delivered.
• Represents the firm with a clear point of view, consistent quality, and disciplined follow‑through that strengthens relationships and reputation.
• Builds visibility and opportunity through targeted thought leadership, speaking/publishing, juries and awards, and strategic partner/client outreach that expands influence and drives measurable market growth.
• Showcases the ability to win work through design leadership by shaping compelling big ideas, articulating clear design value, and differentiating BHDP in pursuits and client engagements.
• Drives design value growth by translating market insight into repeatable, high‑impact approaches that strengthen client loyalty, expand opportunities, and elevate the quality and relevance of outcomes across the portfolio.
• Demonstrates accountability for defining, elevating, and consistently delivering market‑level design quality by establishing clear design principles, standards, and review expectations that reflect BHDP’s process.
• Ensures design excellence is repeatable and scalable by guiding teams through rigorous critique and decision‑making, developing talent and tools, and protecting design intent from concept through delivery.
• Leads market design capability by defining a clear point of view, elevating design solutions, and translating market insights into winning strategies and repeatable approaches.
• Leads market‑facing design excellence through thought leadership, mentoring and team development, and client engagement that grows expertise, strengthens relationships, and measurably improves project outcomes and reputation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Architecture degree (NAAB accredited program preferred)
• 25+ years in the design and/or architecture industry
• Architectural License
• Advanced Revit knowledge – independently deliver defined drawing packages/projects and teach others on best practice.
• Advanced knowledge of SketchUp, Enscape, or Lumion
• Advanced experience with Adobe Creative Cloud
• Demonstrated capability to delegate, coach, and raise team performance
• Demonstrated initiative; sees challenges as opportunities
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong communication and collaboration within a team
• Campus Master Planning experience
• Models professional workplace behaviors: reliable follow‑through, constructive feedback, and calm, solutions‑oriented communication with co‑workers and clients

Physical and Mental Demands

• Sustained attention to detail
• Sitting/standing
• Occasional lifting of 20 pounds or less
• Ability to work in an open office environment

Life at BHDP

Our comprehensive benefit package includes a competitive salary, medical, dental, vision, disability, flexible spending accounts, paid holidays, paid time off, and a 401(k), which aligns with our commitment to rewarding our high‑performing professionals.

BHDP Architecture is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

This position description is prepared to provide a general understanding of the responsibilities of the position and does not include a comprehensive list of activities, duties, success factors, or responsibilities that are required for a specific employee. Success Factors, duties, responsibilities, and activities may be modified or augmented at any time with or without notice.