Healthcare Planner

Childers Architect; Bentonville (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Childers Architects is seeking a healthcare planner to join our team in Bentonville. The role focuses on leading planning and programming for healthcare projects, translating clinical workflows into space programs, and collaborating with healthcare administrators, physicians, nursing staff, and other stakeholders.

You will develop departmental layouts, space programs, adjacency diagrams, and assist with floor plans and equipment planning, while presenting concepts clearly to clients and

Job description

Childers Architects is seeking a talented and motivated Healthcare Planner to join our growing team. We are looking for a collaborative, detail-oriented professional who is passionate about healthcare architecture and creating environments that enhance patient care, improve clinical workflows, and support the communities we serve. This position offers opportunities to engage directly with clients, facilitate planning discussions, contribute to project design, and help shape healthcare environments that respond to evolving patient, provider, and operational needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in and lead portions of the healthcare planning and programming process from initial concept development through design development implementation.
• Collaborate directly with healthcare administrators, physicians, nursing staff, clinical departments, and other stakeholders to understand operational and functional requirements.
• Translate client operational models, clinical workflows, and functional requirements into effective architectural planning solutions.
• Develop departmental layouts, space programs, adjacency diagrams, blocking and stacking studies, and clinical workflow diagrams.
• Assist in creating, reviewing, and coordinating architectural floor plans, interior elevations, reflected ceiling plans, and medical equipment plans for clinical spaces.
• Participate in and facilitate user-group meetings, programming workshops, and planning discussions.
• Present planning concepts, diagrams, and design solutions clearly and professionally to clients and project stakeholders.
• Collaborate with project architects, interior designers, engineers, medical equipment planners, and consultants to integrate healthcare planning requirements into the overall building design.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines, NFPA requirements, ADA standards, and applicable healthcare licensing regulations.
• Stay informed of evolving healthcare planning standards, research, evidence-based design practices, and industry developments.
• Work collaboratively with project teams across multiple Childers Architects offices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from an accredited school. Registered Architect (or in process) preferred.
• 5-10 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial healthcare planning and design experience.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Revit and familiarity with BIM-based design and coordination processes.
• Working knowledge of FGI Guidelines, building codes, life safety requirements, and accessibility standards applicable to healthcare facilities.
• Knowledge of healthcare planning and programming concepts including patient safety, evidence-based design principles, clinical workflows and departmental adjacencies.
• Understanding of the medical equipment planning process and experience working with medical equipment planners.
• Experience leading user group meetings and working with healthcare senior leadership.
• Ability to effectively communicate planning concepts through written, verbal, and graphic presentations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and project deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with healthcare professionals, clients, consultants, and internal project teams.

Childers Architect is committed to fostering a professional, respectful, and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.