Client Leader, Academic Performing Arts

DLR Group, the best integrated design firm in the world, has an opening for a creative, innovative, and customer-focused Client Leader in our Cultural + Performing Arts sector , with a specific focus on Academic Performing Arts .

Possible Location :

Cleveland

Houston

New York City

Phoenix

Washington, D.C.

Position Summary

You will be responsible for building and leading client relationships with public and private higher education institutions focused on fine and performing arts projects within the larger Global Cultural + Performing Arts Practice . You will have significant decision-making authority, working closely with senior leadership. Specifically, you'll be responsible for growing client relationships in the academic arts, collaborating to secure new work, positioning projects for design excellence, and maintaining client relationships throughout the life of a project. You will engage with our local, regional, and national resources who provide a wealth of perspective and design, planning, and thought leadership to our Cultural + Performing Arts and Higher Education clients worldwide. You will be responsible for leading projects, maintaining regular communication with both clients and project teams from design through completion and post-occupancy, and ensuring our teams deliver on the vision.

The successful candidate will :

• Develop and foster a design culture to build upon our award-winning academic arts portfolio, where all projects strive for design excellence. This includes hands-on design leadership and cultivating a team and culture to advance a design-led integrated practice.
• Work closely with the Global Leader for Cultural + Performing Arts to develop strategies for the annual business plan.
• Identify new project opportunities, lead / participate in relationship-building with clients to capture new work, and lead / participate in RFQ process and interviews for new project opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Cultural + Performing Arts and Higher Education practices to leverage all firm resources, disciplines, and thought leaders.
• Lead and / or assist in project planning and design in the practice.
• Mentor team members and participate in hiring, training, and onboarding of new staff.
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills coupled with strong organizational skills.
• Participate in in-house training activities to further develop personal skills and abilities, and those of all studio members.
• Actively engage in local and regional organizations e.g., AIA, ICFAD, NOMA, SCUP, IIDA, etc.

Qualifications :

• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience with multiple Academic clients and projects, with a select portfolio of Academic Arts projects
• Accredited Degree in Architecture or Interior Design
• Licensed Architect preferred
• Active in community building and elevating all voices with the goal of inclusive design decisions
• Demonstrated experience as a Practice Builder within a design firm or within an Academic Institution
• Knowledge of the Academic Arts environment, e.g., trends, challenges, expectations, and the dynamics of decision-making by clients in procuring professional services

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee-owned : every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Our ambition is to use our collective design voice to bring about a better society and create stronger communities by recognizing and addressing longstanding inequities in our nation. Leading this change – to deliver a more equitable culture – aligns with DLR Group’s Core Values and our brand promise to elevate the human experience through design. By exploring, discovering, sharing, and ultimately resolving inequities identified within our firm and the broader A / E / C industry, we can develop a more diverse and inclusive design culture to better fulfill our brand promise.

Our comprehensive Benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills.

Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action / M / F / Veteran / Disabled employer.

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