The Director, Pediatrics will set the vision and guide the strategic growth of HDR's Pediatric Practice while maintaining an active, hands-on role in project leadership. This leader will champion environments that support whole-child health, family-centered care, clinical excellence, and positive developmental outcomes, advancing innovative, evidence-informed, and human-centered pediatric design across the full continuum of care.

Building on HDR's depth of experience in pediatric healthcare planning and design, this role ensures our work continues to evolve in response to advancing clinical models, emerging research, technology, and the complex needs of children, families, caregivers, and communities. The Director will help shape environments that are safe, adaptable, welcoming, and inspiring, supporting healing, development, and well-being for patients of all ages.

The Director will be responsible for practice development, leadership, and project involvement across HDR's pediatric healthcare portfolio. This includes children's hospitals, pediatric specialty and subspecialty care, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, outpatient and ambulatory care, behavioral and developmental services, and integrated women's and children's facilities. This leader will collaborate closely with global Health Sector leadership, regional and studio leaders, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure consistency, innovation, and measurable impact across the firm.

Primary Responsibilities

The Director will lead and be directly involved in strategic planning, business development, thought leadership, talent development, and project leadership for HDR's Pediatric Practice.
• Practice Development: Define and execute the long-term vision and growth strategy for the pediatric practice
• Practice Leadership: Advance design excellence, innovation, and consistency across all pediatric work firmwide
• Project Leadership: Maintain a meaningful role in projects to ensure real world application of practice priorities, clinical insight, and core value

Practice Development
• Grow HDR's Pediatric Practice within the Health Sector while supporting collaboration across Architecture, Planning, Engineering, and other business group
• Strengthen HDR's position as a recognized leader in pediatric healthcare planning and design, with a focus on whole child health, family engagement, safety, adaptability, and operational excellence
• Inspire staff at all levels to contribute to the growth, innovation, and evolution of pediatric design expertise
• Develop, nurture, and sustain strong relationships with children's hospitals, healthcare systems, academic medical centers, pediatric providers, and community partner
• Evaluate, mentor, and recruit professionals to build and strengthen a high performing, specialized pediatric practice team
• Lead business development and marketing efforts in coordination with Health Sector and regional leadership
• Represent HDR through industry engagement, research, publications, and speaking opportunities focused on pediatric healthcare
• Expand relationships across clinical, academic, research, and advocacy communities supporting child health and wellne
• Develop and implement annual and multi-year business plans aligned with HDR's Health Sector strategy

Practice Leadership
• Collaborate with architecture, planning, and design leadership to establish shared goals for excellence in pediatric environment
• Advance design approaches that support child development, family centered care, safety, infection control, flexibility, and long-term adaptability
• Promote inclusive and equitable environments that address the diverse needs of children and families across cultures, abilities, and life stage
• Ensure HDR's commitments to sustainability, resilience, and regenerative design are integrated into pediatric healthcare solution
• Assess talent, capabilities, and organizational structure to position the pediatric practice for long term growth and innovation
• Develop strategies and frameworks that support consistency, scalability, and delivery excellence across region
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement initiatives that elevate practice performance and outcome
• Foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, mentorship, and accountability across interdisciplinary team
• Work collaboratively with marketing and pursuit teams to develop compelling materials that support both pre-positioning and active pursuit

Project Leadership
• Provide direct project expertise and leadership on pediatric healthcare projects.
• Offer design oversight, technical guidance, and thought leadership across all phases of work
• Establish and uphold processes that ensure consistent quality, innovation, and excellence across pediatric projects firmwide
• Lead teams in understanding the impact of design decisions on child and family experience, safety, clinical outcomes, staff effectiveness, and operational performance
• Support client relationship management and guide teams in achieving project goals, schedules, and expectation
• Provide strategic problem solving and leadership support as project needs arise

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in pediatric health projects as a subject matter expert
• Registered Architect
• Familiar with current trends in pediatric healthcare delivery
• Able to lead a team on projects and make client presentation
• Experience in successfully developing and executing targeted market and client strategie
• Desire to work towards the integration of holistic sustainable processes into design projects at early design stage
• Experience in sustainable and / or regenerative design
• Experience and understanding of basic building physics, low carbon materials and high-performance design strategie
• Advanced credentialing desired (e.g. ACHA, LEED, EDAC, etc)
• Willing to travel

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Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or closely related field
• A minimum of 12 years industry experience including leadership
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong skills in client management, client development and a documented history of growing/leading a practice
• Strong business skills; specifically handling budgets, staff and operational issues
• Strong ability to analyze the marketplace and strategically position HDR
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must