New

Studio Design Leader, Experience Districts

HKS, Inc
United States, Georgia, Atlanta
Jan 07, 2026
Overview: A senior Urban/District Design Leader who thinks at district scale, not just buildings, and can integrate sports, mixed-use, residential, hospitality and public realm into one coherent vision. The ideal candidate will be practice-agnostic who can move across Sports, Commercial Mixed Use, Cities & Communities, Health and more, and "see the whole board" for complex districts. Strong client presence, with a portfolio of built or advanced district work, some external recognition, and comfort leading big-room conversations with cities, agencies and developers. A connector who brings market intelligence and relationships, understands how experience districts are financed and programmed, and grounds design in real community and equity needs. Responsible for advancing Design Excellence (as defined by the Design Enterprise) in the respective studio. Must ensure, and participate in, critical design dialog across all project teams within the studio and evaluate the quality of studio work against the strategic plan. The Studio Design Leader often leads or participates in multiple projects concurrently. The role focuses on growing design leadership skills related to relationship-building, collaboration and interpersonal skills while working on great projects for exceptional clients. Responsibilities: Supports all project design leaders and project teams within the studio and evaluates the quality of studio work against the strategic plan, in collaboration with studio and office leadership Holds designers in their studio accountable for design quality Participates in quarterly Regional Design Summits and/or Practice Design Summits to review work within the region in the spirit of continuous improvement Collaborates in strategic planning for specific practice with other leaders, as well as vetting studio marketing strategy and allocating needed resources Ensures project teams develop measures that can be evaluated during all stages of the project for the design enterprise standards of integration, innovation and impact Collaborates on projects assigned to respective studio by focusing on the project process, development of the vision and goals, service/delivery, work environment and project documentation Collaborates with leaders such as Project Manager, Studio Practice Leader and Regional Design Director to lead the team through all phases by guiding, advising and mentoring other designers on project work, developing design direction and leading critiques May act 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 Assists in managing client expectations, team communication and consultant coordination for respective studio in collaboration with project team leadership Serves as a design resource for the studio, assisting in the resolution of complex problems, and helping them grow in their roles Reviews concept development and, in collaboration with Studio Practice Leader and Regional Design Director, provides leadership, inspiration and motivation to the design team to create the highest quality design documentation and to achieve client satisfaction 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 Regional Design 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 Qualifications: Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design, related degree for respective field, or relevant years in education or experience Licensure or certification in chosen field preferred Typically 15+ years of experience, including experience in a leadership role with demonstrated success in both project work and talent/resource development Significant experience in the practice area of the studio Sustainable design accreditation preferred Familiarity in the capability and benefits of design-related software preferred Familiarity in the functionality of Vision Experience in MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Project and Microsoft Teams preferred Proficiency in logistics management including connecting people and resources to the right place at the right time Successful track record in directing and providing leadership for design teams from business development presentations through developing strategy and design concepts Successful track record in success building, nurturing and fostering new client relationships Excellent presentation skills Strong leadership, organization, communication and relationship management skills Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time Ability to work closely with design leaders to promote an inter-disciplinary design approach and philosophy, and to facilitate its advancement across the firm Ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing Ability to problem solve and apply innovative solutions Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality Travel will be required #LI-KT1 If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal. HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran