Your Role

As a market-facing practitioner with deep knowledge and experience, you will join the team to build our book of business in the Sciences market sector through thought leadership and cultivating strategic relationships. You are adept at business development while also taking on a management leadership role on projects. Working collaboratively within the region and Gensler network, you will help shape how we get the work, lead the dialogue on design innovation, and help mentor the next generation of design professionals.

The is seeking a Senior Practice Area Leader for the market sector to assume a key leadership role. The qualified candidate will have exceptional client relationship skills, and a portfolio of innovative design solutions with an emphasis on built work. You will utilize your existing relationships with corporate clients, higher education institutions, and sciences led developers to help build our Lab Planning/Life Sciences Design practice.

What You Will Do

• The Sciences Practice Area Leader is a thought and knowledge leader, seller, and doer who will work in concert with the office's senior leadership developing and executing strategies to grow the region's lab planning/life sciences design practice through expanding existing client relationships and developing new lines of work.
• Serve as the SME for the Washington, D.C. office for laboratory planning, and life sciences design. This person will work on a variety of simultaneous projects from the conceptual design through design development phases, and have an expansive portfolio of high-quality built work that compliments the firm's current portfolio.
• Develop collaborative relationships across the firm, with clients, and with other key constituents.
• Collaborate with design teams to deliver informed project solutions based on market expertise and deep understanding of client goals.
• Work closely with office and studio leaders to identify and recruit best-in-class talent.
• Partner with office directors to establish budgetary framework and investment strategies for the practice area.
• Act as lead design manager and drive the project delivery during all project phases.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and work plans.
• Lead the relationships with the client, contractor, agencies, as well as engineering and specialty consultants.
• Prepare and review proposals, contracts, and consultant agreements.
• Oversee the coordination and document preparation for the project and provide quality assurance via review of project documentation.

Your Qualifications

• 10+ years of architectural experience, inclusive of 5, or more, years of recent, progressive experience leading the planning and design of all phases of lab and life sciences facilities.
• LEED AP preferred. Committed to the principles of sustainable design and resilient communities.
• As an expert the qualified candidate must present and interview extremely well - selling planning solutions to the highest level of decision makers with our clients (Presidents, Deans, Chairs, Facility Leads, etc.), and speaking holistically about planning, issues and trends in interviews and ideally also at conferences.
• Ability to develop laboratory planning strategies that both provide the greatest value, and respond to clients' tactical and strategic objectives while maintaining design excellence.
• This Market Leader will have experience winning and delivering large-scale academic science & research projects and taking advantage of synergies across market sectors in business development pursuits.
• Adept at storytelling, engaging as a communicator, possess strong presentation skills with the ability to articulate ideas in interviews and other presentations.
• Ability to build project-specific strategies in the business development phase by creating a unique value proposition, design strategy, presentation content, differentiation and value-added elements, working in collaboration with firm leadership.
• Proven track record of identifying leads, developing relationships and building a network
• Connected and well-regarded within the community and active in industry organizations.
• Skilled at developing and motivating teams of people both internally and externally.
• Experience managing a studio, practice group, or office is a plus.

*This role is not remote; we look forward to working with our new Market Leader in our incredible Washington, D.C. office. Learn more about our team here:

Learn more about our Sciences Practice Area here:

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to "Well-being Week," our offices reflect our people's diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm's commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

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