Education and Science Principal

HDR • Pennington, NJ

10h

About The Position

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We believe architecture is more than designing buildings, it’s about providing solutions to societal challenges and creating stronger, more vibrant communities. As part of our Architecture practice at HDR, you’ll contribute to the design and delivery of spaces and experiences that advance community well-being around the world. From healing environments and learning spaces to research labs and civic landmarks and infrastructure, your work will directly influence how individuals experience the world around them. We bring together architects, planners, designers, and technical experts to solve complex design challenges with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. From championing design excellence with an emphasis on resilience and sustainability to pioneering innovative building technologies, your contributions will leave a lasting impact on the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive meaningful change and help define the future of our communities.
Principal, Education and Science
We design spaces that change how people think, discover, and create — and we're looking for a Principal to help lead that work in the Southeast.
Our Education and Science practice shapes research labs, academic institutions, and corporate life science environments for the world's most ambitious clients. We're ranked #1 in Science and Technology and have earned 11 Lab of the Year awards — not by playing it safe, but by pairing deep technical rigor with bold, human-centered design.
You'll join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of architects, engineers, and designers who believe the built environment can fundamentally shift human behavior. That belief drives everything we do, from the first client conversation to ribbon cutting.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture
• 15 years related experience
• A minimum 7 years project management experience
• Registered Architect
• Must have experience on large-scale projects
• Must be able to lead a team on projects and make client presentations
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project)
• Extensive knowledge and experience within the local and regional market
• Strong team leadership, mentoring, motivational/organizational and people skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be willing to travel
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• Proven experience winning and delivering complex Education and Science projects
• The drive to grow a market, not just manage one
• A reputation clients remember and competitors notice

Nice To Haves

• Experience on large-scale science and higher education projects.
• Experience with biotech, pharma, or corporate science clients.
• Experience with general higher education academic buildings and programs.
• Extensive knowledge and experience within the local and regional science and education market.
• Proven business development experience in education and science consulting industry.
• Working knowledge of Revit.
• Willing to travel.
• Experience and/or interest in sustainable design/LEED.

Responsibilities

• Setting strategic direction for the Education and Science sector across the region
• Building and sustaining a high-value client portfolio through genuine, lasting relationships
• Leading pursuits from pre-positioning through close — and owning the results
• Directing project teams with the confidence of someone who's done it before

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal