Lead Designer | Higher Education | Architecture

BHDP Architecture; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, vision

Disability insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays & PTO

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

BHDP is seeking a Lead Designer for the Higher Education market in Charlotte, NC. The role leads design for large-scale projects, serving as final design authority across all phases and driving quality through strong leadership and clear client communication.

The successful candidate will bring a NAAB‑accredited degree, 18+ years in design/architecture, and licensure. Advanced skills in Revit, SketchUp, Enscape or Lumion, and Adobe Creative Cloud are required; the position offers in‑office/

Qualifications

• Bachelor/architectural degree required or equivalent professional credential.
• 18+ years in the design and/or architecture industry.
• Licensed Architect.
• Campus Master Planning experience preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Revit with ability to deliver defined drawing packages and teach others.
• Proficiency in SketchUp, Enscape, or Lumion.
• Advanced experience with Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Demonstrated delegation, coaching, and team‑growth capability.
• Strong attention to detail and proactive communication with clients and team.

Responsibilities

• Lead design for large-scale projects within higher education market, ensuring design quality across all phases.
• Act as final design authority and mentor team to improve performance.
• Manage day-to-day client relationships, translating goals into clear design direction.
• Set expectations and protect design quality while guiding scope, budget, and schedule.
• Develop and retain design talent by modeling BHDP design philosophy and delegating effectively.
• Support staffing decisions and maintain project discipline across capabilities.
• Translate client/user aspirations into compelling concepts and measurable design outcomes.

Skills

Revit

SketchUp

Enscape

Lumion

Adobe Creative Cloud

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor of Architecture

NAAB-accredited program preferred

Job description

Skip to main content

Job Openings

Want to grow with us? Apply today.

Position:Lead Designer | Higher Education | Architecture Location: Charlotte, NC
Job Id:720 # of Openings:1 Market: Higher Education Location: Charlotte, 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 Lead Designer leads design for large-scale projects for a specific market/business segment, elevating project outcomes through strong design thinking aligned with client vision. This role provides design leadership across all phases—serving as the final design authority for key decisions—and drives high-quality delivery through clear expectations, accountability, and effective team leadership. Responsibilities

• Leads large-project design delivery by setting clear expectations, aligning the right people in the right seats, and driving follow through that sustains design quality and strengthens client trust across all phases.
• Acts as the final design authority for high-impact design decisions, coaching team growth through productive feedback, while managing design effort for revenue efficiency and providing proactive, client ready communication on options, tradeoffs, and impacts.
• Leads the day-to-day design relationship with clients on large-scale projects, building trust while translating client goals into clear direction, decisions, and design outcomes.
• Manages client expectations through all phases of the project by proactively communicating design intent, options, and tradeoffs, aligning stakeholders, and protecting design quality as the work advances.
• Develops and retains high performing design talent by setting clear expectations, modeling BHDP design philosophy, and creating an environment where great work can happen.
• Coaches and grows designers through intentional delegation, timely feedback and critique, and targeted opportunities that build capability, confidence, and future leadership while maintaining accountability to project outcomes.
• Builds and sustains the right project discipline structure on projects across all capabilities, aligning the “right people in the right seats” to match project complexity, design ambition, and delivery demands.
• Directs team utilization by clarifying roles and decision authority regarding design, balancing workloads and skillsets over time, and elevating/adjusting staffing to protect design quality, accountability, and performance through the duration of the project.
• Takes responsibility for setting and sustaining an inspiring, high-quality design vision on large scale projects, translating client and user aspirations into clear, compelling concepts and measurable design solutions.
• Leads teams to deliver design excellence through every phase by elevating critique, ensuring cohesion across disciplines / capabilities, and protecting design intent as decisions are tested against complexity, constraints, and delivery realities.
• Maximizes efficiency by aligning design ambition, scope, and team effort to deliver high-impact outcomes within planned fee and schedules.
• Elevates design value by focusing time on the decisions and moments that matter most to the client, defining and protecting design intent, and proactively adjusting approach and resourcing to reduce rework while increasing measurable client benefit.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Architecture degree (NAAB accredited program preferred)
• 18+ years in the design and/or architecture industry.
• Licensed Architect
• Campus Master Planning
• 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
• 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.

Learn More About BHDP