Mental & Behavioral Health Studio Leader

HKS, Inc; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

HKS, Inc. is seeking a Mental & Behavioral Health Studio Practice Leader to manage the studio and guide multiple project teams in design, development and delivery of healthcare facilities.

This role focuses on relationship-building, collaboration, and leadership growth across projects and clients. The candidate will lead teams, mentor designers, and align strategy with firm goals, while ensuring high-quality documentation and client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture or related field.
• Licensure or certification in chosen field preferred.
• Significant leadership experience in design studios and project delivery.
• Familiarity with Vision software and project management tools.
• Strong presentation and client-relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversees projects assigned to respective core studio by focusing on the project process, service/delivery, work environment and project documentation.
• Collaborates in strategic planning and facilitates communication for specific practice with other leaders, such as vetting studio marketing strategy and allocating needed resources.
• Partners with Studios to further the strategic goals of the firm, sector and office.
• Collaborates during the initial marketing stages through completion of construction, including programming client needs, conceptual and schematic design, design development and delivery.
• Collaborates with leaders such as Project Manager and Studio Design Leader to lead the team through all phases by guiding, advising and mentoring other designers on project work, developing design direction and leading critiques.
• Acts as a primary interface with clients for respective studio, building and strengthening connections through a comprehensive understanding of their mission, goals, policies, needs and progress.
• Manages client expectations, team communication and consultant coordination for respective studio in collaboration with project team leadership.
• Monitors staffing, utilization and growth management across the studio, including recommending adjustments where necessary.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the studio relating to all staff, business and financial operations.
• Serves as a technical resource for the studio, assisting in the resolution of complex problems, and helping them grow in their roles.
• Reviews conceptual development and, in collaboration with Studio Design Leader, provides leadership, inspiration and motivation to the design team to ensure that the highest quality design documentation is produced and client satisfaction is achieved.
• Partners with Office Directors as a liaison between the firm leadership and staff, communicating firm and regional initiatives and priorities.
• Emphasizes and incorporates HKS strategic priorities, such as Design Measures into client solutions.
• Operates with "ONE Firm" mindset, minimizes the sector and operational variables within the office in collaboration with Global Practice Director.
• Integrates HKS services, expertise and innovation in all projects, while actively seeking opportunities to incorporate HKS best practices, sustainable design solutions, subject matter expertise and resources strategically and efficiently for the client, user and community.
• Exercises skills of persuasion and negotiation on critical issues.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Relationship management

Presentation skills

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Architectural degree

Licensure or certification

Sustainable design accreditation

Tools

Vision

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Teams

Job description

HKS, Inc. is seeking a Mental & Behavioral Health Studio Practice Leader to manage the studio and guide multiple project teams in design, development and delivery of healthcare facilities.

This role focuses on relationship-building, collaboration, and leadership growth across projects and clients. The candidate will lead teams, mentor designers, and align strategy with firm goals, while ensuring high-quality documentation and client satisfaction.