Higher Education Market Leader

NBBJ Design; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

NBBJ Design in Boston invites a Higher Education Market Leader to expand our practice, nurture strategic relationships, and pursue opportunities across public and private colleges. You will shape our regional vision, lead projects, and mentor staff while collaborating with Education Practice Leadership and Marketing to grow the portfolio.

The role requires a deep HE design background, licensure, and a track record of delivering complex campus projects.

Qualifications

• Must have 20+ years in design with a focus on higher education.
• Licensed architect in the United States.
• Proven track record delivering HE projects from planning through completion.
• Strong leadership and client relationship-building capabilities.
• Ability to lead proposals and marketing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Grow and lead the Higher Education practice within the Boston Studio.
• Develop client relationships with colleges and universities across the region.
• Lead marketing content, proposals and interview strategies to win work.
• Mentor teams and advance the practice through conferences and publications.
• Collaborate with Education Practice Leadership and Marketing to expand opportunities.

Skills

Higher Education design

Business development

Client relationship management

Proposal development

Leadership

Education

Architect licensure

LEED Accreditation encouraged

Job description

Description

NBBJ is an award-winning design firm recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company, a Fast Company Most Innovative Architecture Firm and a two-time 2025 AIA National Honor Award recipient. These recognitions reflect our purpose-driven approach that, fueled by ideas and a culture of collaboration, creates healthy buildings, strong communities and a resilient environment. That’s where you come in. With leading clients, diverse colleagues and offices in creative capitals around the globe, a career at NBBJ will inspire you to be extraordinary. You can learn more about our firm, see what it’s like to work here and explore recent projects and ideas at NBBJ.com. Join us to make an impact today!

The Role At a Glance

This is an exciting opportunity to join NBBJ as a Higher Education Market Leader in our Boston Studio. The NBBJ Higher Education Market Leader is an industry-facing expert who is motivated to nurture relationships and pursue new opportunities that elevate collegiate learning, research and campus life experiences for students, faculty and administrators at both public and private colleges and universities. Market Leaders shape NBBJ’s global practice at the regional and national levels, advancing our commitment to innovation and design excellence. Adept at building long‑term strategic relationships, playing a leadership role on projects, and marketing complex projects, this role will work closely with the firm’s Education Practice Leadership team and Marketing Department to build the practice, identify new opportunities, and develop client service strategies to grow the practice throughout New England and the Northeast. The ideal candidate for this role can work both collaboratively and independently, is proactive in delivering success, is able to positively influence others—and can thrive in the face of changing conditions.

In Your New Role, You Will

• Grow the Higher Education practice: develop and maintain new and existing client relationships


• Work closely with the Education Practice Leadership Team, Client Development Manager and Market Manager to continually identify and generate business opportunities that broaden the Higher Education practice in a way that is aligned with the practice’s and NBBJ’s firm wide strategic vision


• Assist in the development of marketing content that strengthens the Higher Education practice image, value propositions and POV


• Provide strategy and vision for proposals and interviews with prospective clients to increase win rate


• Generate a strong pipeline — leads and prospects — to increase the Higher Education practice’s reach and influence


• Ensure Higher Education practice success for the Boston Studio, including meeting annual sales goals and revenue targets, while also meeting marketing budgets


• Advance the Higher Education practice’s reputation through conference presentations, journal articles and social media communications


• Be part of a fully integrated design studio and a team member on major Higher Education projects


• Be a leader in marketing, a trusted advisor to clients, a team member on projects, and a role model and a mentor for all staff.

What You Will Need To Succeed

• Must be an expert in Higher Education design with a deep understanding of NBBJ’s work


• Proven success in planning and developing both new construction and transformative renovation projects as well as the ability to motivate and inspire teams, both internally and externally.


• Proven ability to build business and deliver exceptional Higher Education projects across a range of scales and typologies (including research, instruction, student life and student services).


• Skilled at presenting and communicating with high‑level leadership at colleges and universities


• Strong relationships and connections with Higher Education clients across the East Coast


• Experience with campus planning and master planning, encouraged


• Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative and open environment


• Ability to independently analyze and synthesize information and take action


• Ability to generate leads early in the sales cycle and work collaboratively with the studio/practice team to develop strategies and relationships that convert them into prospects


• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative environment and capable of bringing together a diverse team of leaders, unifying diverse marketing mindsets, approaches, and capabilities into a cohesive team


• 20+ years of experience in the design profession with a focus in Higher Education


• Licensure required


• LEED Accreditation, encouraged

This role requires the individual to be based in the United States.

The annual base pay range for this role is anticipated to be between $150,000 and $165,000. Actual compensation for successful candidates will be carefully determined based on a number of factors, including their skills, qualifications and experience.

NBBJ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F Disabled and Vet EEO/AA Employer.