Director of Building Performance Analysis

HKS•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Overview: A recognized leader, building energy performance expert, and trusted change agent who helps HKS project teams translate ambition into measurable outcomes: healthy, resilient, low-carbon buildings that improve people’s lives. Leads the Building Performance Analysis team and brings deep fluency in simulation tools and performance strategies to shape decisions from early concept through delivery, ensuring design intent becomes real-world results for HKS clients and stakeholders. Serves as a collaborative partner with designers and firmwide technical experts to co-create ideas that accelerate innovation, reduce risk, and elevate quality. Builds durable client relationships through credibility, curiosity, and practical problem-solving. Champions the firm’s values by advancing integrated, high-performance design as a standard of excellence across projects, practices, and regions.

Requirements

Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering, Sustainable Design or related field
Typically 15+ years of experience
Strong knowledge in interpreting and applying high-performance building standards such as ANSI, ASHRAE, IESNA and ASTM as well as building energy codes such as IECC and T24
Strong integrative knowledge of architectural, mechanical and electrical building systems
Working knowledge of building physics, energy transfer, mechanical design, system control strategies and economics
Knowledge of QA/QC and specification process
Knowledge of building codes and ability to research and apply/incorporate into technical documents
Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and professionally while managing multiple projects at the same time
Ability to competently assess existing building systems and site conditions, analyze and evaluate equipment and energy usage, and recommend strategies to optimize building resource utilization
Ability to manage team with diplomatic leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external
Ability to maintain existing client relationships and build new client relationships
Ability to produce and review technical reports that discuss the analysis processes undertaken, inputs/ outputs, conclusions, impact on other disciplines
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 may be required

Nice To Haves

Professional licensure in architecture or engineering preferred
Modeling credentials such as ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP), Building Energy Simulation Analyst (BESA), or equivalent preferred
Sustainable design accreditation preferred
Familiarity with design and energy modeling applications such as Rhino, Grasshopper, Radiance, DIVA, REVIT, AutoCAD, Sketchup, IES VE, Sefaira, Insight360, Energy Plus, EnergyPro
Experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchup and InDesign graphic software
Proficiency in MS Office Suite
Experience in LEED submission and regulatory compliance energy modeling
Experience in applying green building frameworks such as LEED, WELL, Living Buildings, and/or BREEAM
Familiarity with global ESG protocols preferred
Familiarity with computational design and parametric modeling preferred
Knowledge of sustainability and integrated design guidelines

Responsibilities

Leads whole-building dynamic thermal and energy simulations, along with detailed engineering analysis, to inform design, construction, and operations by optimizing energy use, delivering all-electric solutions, deploying distributed energy resources for resilience, reliability and lower OpEx, increasing grid interactivity, integrating renewables, and reducing GHG emissions
Guides design decisions across the lifecycle using analysis of energy efficiency, passive and active strategies, massing, daylighting, glare and shading, thermal comfort, natural ventilation, mechanical system alternatives, and load conditions
Partners with the Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of Sustainability to expand and integrate design-performance, energy-modeling, and operations-modeling practices across firmwide project delivery, strengthening early-stage modeling impact on outcomes
Prepares and delivers client-facing presentations, technical narratives, and persuasive visualizations; presents design concepts and drawings; and supports pursuits with performance-based differentiation
Predicts building energy use and savings versus baseline using whole-building simulations with clear assumptions, and verifies performance through post-occupancy evaluation using industry-standard calibration procedures
Performs Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for alternatives, applying appropriate economic parameters and accounting for decisions by architects, engineers, contractors, operators, and utilities
Identifies, evaluates, and advances innovations through professional literature review, research, and publication to improve outcomes in energy efficiency, reduce carbon impacts, and enhance building performance using both new and existing technologies
Develops market-transforming ideas and implementation strategies, and mentors project teams to strengthen building-systems capability and deliver healthier, more resilient, low-carbon outcomes
Leads strategic process and technical improvements that elevate project quality, strengthen client value, reduce risk, and resolve critical issues through effective persuasion and negotiation, and partners with PIC/PM on risk management
Manages the Building Performance Analysis team’s workload to meet revenue and enterprise goals, coordinates resourcing with Regional Leaders, and collaborates with Enterprise Research, Design, and Process leadership to leverage complex datasets for design decisions and research initiatives