Director of New Design

Walker Consultants; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus program

Employee stock ownership

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off and holidays

Professional development opportunities

Tuition and licensure reimbursement

Job summary

Walker Consultants in Atlanta seeks a Director of Design to build and lead a growing design practice while staying closely connected to clients and projects. You will provide leadership across project delivery, client relationships, team development, and business growth, shaping Walker’s design presence in the Atlanta market.

This role suits an experienced design leader who values relationships, people development, and delivering excellent projects, with opportunities to mentor staff and expand

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex building design projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Professional Engineer (PE), Structural Engineer (SE), or Architect licensure.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and develop new business.
• Strong understanding of project financials, contracts, staffing, scheduling, and quality management.
• Mentor and develop project managers and technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for the Atlanta design practice.
• Lead and oversee complex building and parking design projects from planning through construction.
• Develop strong relationships with existing and prospective clients and act as trusted advisor.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to grow the design practice in Atlanta and surrounding markets.
• Lead proposals, interviews, client presentations, and other business development efforts.
• Oversee project planning, staffing, financial performance, schedules, and quality.
• Guide multidisciplinary teams of engineers, architects, consultants, and technical professionals.
• Mentor and develop project managers and technical staff.
• Partner with Walker leaders and other offices to leverage resources.
• Balance technical leadership, project delivery, people leadership, and practice growth.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Business development

Mentoring

Communication

Project management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Structural Engineering

Civil Engineering

Architecture or related field

Professional licensure (PE/SE/Architect)

Job description

How Your Role Will Shape Our Success

As Director of Design in Atlanta, you’ll have the opportunity to help build and lead a growing design practice while remaining closely connected to clients and projects. You’ll provide leadership across project delivery, client relationships, team development, and business growth, helping establish the direction and presence of Walker’s design services in the Atlanta market.

This role is ideal for an experienced design leader who enjoys building relationships and developing people just as much as delivering great projects.

What You’ll Do

• Provide leadership and direction for the Atlanta design practice.
• Lead and oversee complex building and parking design projects from planning through construction.
• Develop strong relationships with existing and prospective clients and serve as a trusted advisor.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to grow the design practice in Atlanta and the surrounding market.
• Lead proposals, interviews, client presentations, and other business development efforts.
• Oversee project planning, staffing, financial performance, schedules, and quality.
• Guide multidisciplinary teams of engineers, architects, consultants, and technical professionals.
• Mentor and develop project managers and technical staff.
• Partner with other Walker leaders and offices to leverage expertise and resources across the organization.
• Balance technical leadership, project delivery, people leadership, and practice growth.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• Significant experience leading complex building design projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Professional Engineer (PE), Structural Engineer (SE), or Architect licensure.
• Proven experience managing client relationships and developing new business.
• Strong understanding of project financials, contracts, staffing, scheduling, and quality management.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical professionals and project leaders.
• Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience in parking, functional design, or related building design markets is highly valued.
• An established network of industry and client relationships in Atlanta or the Southeast would be a plus.

We offer a robust total compensation and rewards package designed to support our employees’ well‑being, growth, and diverse needs, including:

• Annual discretionary bonus program
• Opportunity to purchase Walker stock – Walker is 100% employee-owned!
• Medical, dental, vision, company-paid life insurance
• Mental wellness benefits
• Health Savings Account with company contribution
• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Spending Accounts
• 529 college savings plan
• A minimum of 3 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
• 9 paid holidays per year, including 3 paid floating holidays
• 5 days of bereavement leave and PTO Donation Bank to help during difficult times
• 100% compensation replacement during short‑term disability leaves
• Paid parental leave that allows an additional week of paid time alongside short‑term disability leave and/or applicable state paid leave programs
• Paid community involvement hours
• Tuition and licensure reimbursementand sponsorship of professional memberships
• Internal conferences and professional development opportunities
• Employee Resource Groups and Affinity Groups

Why Walker Consultants?

Walker Consultants holds a storied legacy in parking design, tracing back to its inception in 1965 as a trailblazer in structural engineering and parking design. Drawing from decades of expertise, the company's position as an industry leader is firmly established. By the 1980s, Walker had risen to prominence as the premier parking consulting firm in the United States, offering employees the unique opportunity to contribute to and learn from a distinguished and successful team.

With an unwavering commitment to visionary design, Walker’s team of experts focuses on creating parking facilities that remain relevant and functional for years to come, providing an intellectually stimulating and fulfilling environment. In the face of a swiftly evolving landscape driven by ride apps, novel mobility choices, autonomous and electric vehicles, and sustainability imperatives, our role at the forefront of designing adaptable, efficient, and future‑proof parking structures reflects our embrace of innovation and change. As a creative professional within our ranks, you'll contribute your expertise to shaping aesthetically pleasing, technologically advanced parking facilities, encompassing the broader impact of urban planning, traffic management, and sustainability.

Join Us!

We know that great talent comes in many forms. If you're excited about this role but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply! You might just be the right person for this role—or another opportunity on our team.

At Walker Consultants, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all abilities. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, or in the workplace, please let us know—we will work with you to ensure a fair and accessible experience.

Walker Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We invite all qualified applicants to apply and do not discriminate against individuals because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or age.