Higher Education Market Sector Leader

JacobsWyper Architects•Raleigh, NC

About The Position

JacobsWyper Architects (JWA), a full-service design firm, is seeking a Higher Education Sector Leader in Raleigh, North Carolina, to grow its practice serving colleges, universities, and workforce development organizations. This strategic leadership role calls for a leader with deep higher education market relationships who can develop opportunities, lead complex projects, and shape a growing practice. The ideal candidate has experience with state-funded capital projects and understands public procurement, agency oversight, and institutional decision-making, along with established relationships across universities, community colleges, state university systems, and supporting agencies. As a member of the firm’s leadership team, the Sector Leader will represent JWA through thought leadership and engagement in the higher education and design communities, contribute to firm-wide strategic planning, influence growth initiatives and market positioning, guide project delivery, and help define the future of the higher education practice. The practice focuses on STEAM facilities and workforce development environments, including research labs, applied learning spaces, advanced training centers, and career-focused education facilities. It draws on the firm’s life sciences and advanced manufacturing expertise to support institutional investments in innovation, research, and workforce development. The role includes practice and people leadership, client and market development, and senior oversight of higher education projects from planning through implementation. It also involves supporting project delivery, team development, resource planning, recruiting, and collaboration across offices and disciplines. Local and overnight travel is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; an accredited professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or a related field, or relevant years in education or experience, is specified in the qualifications.
Typically, 12 or more years of experience, including leadership experience and demonstrated success in project work and talent/resource development.
Experience leading state-funded capital projects and understanding public procurement, agency oversight, and institutional decision-making.
Ability to review and interpret contracts.
Comprehensive understanding of design-related software, implementation, and processes used by the team.
Experience with Revit, Autodesk Cloud, Enscape, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Excellent presentation skills.
Strong leadership, organization, communication, and relationship-management skills, including the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time.
Ability to manage teams with a diplomatic and collaborative leadership style that values internal and external relationships.
Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally, verbally and in writing.
Ability to solve complicated problems and apply innovative solutions.
Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment.
Ability to meet deadlines at the expected quality level.
Local and overnight travel required.

Nice To Haves

Professional architectural license or certification in the chosen field preferred.
Sustainable design accreditation preferred.
Experience with MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Project and Microsoft Teams, preferred.
Experience with SketchUp and Rhino is a plus.

Responsibilities

Help shape strategic direction, market positioning, and growth initiatives for the higher education practice as a member of the firm’s leadership team.
Lead and expand the higher education market sector, focusing on STEAM facilities, research environments, and workforce development projects.
Coordinate with sector leaders, project managers, and subject matter experts across offices to align resources, expertise, and client opportunities.
Champion design excellence, technical quality, and best practices on higher education projects.
Support resource planning, recruiting, and team development for sustainable practice growth.
Manage key higher education client relationships and develop long-term partnerships that generate repeat work and strategic opportunities.
Represent the firm through thought leadership, including conference presentations, panel participation, industry organizations, and published content.
Work with business development and marketing teams to identify opportunities, position the firm, and develop pursuit strategies across markets and regions.
Lead or support proposals, interviews, and contract pursuits, including state-funded and publicly procured projects.
Maintain and grow a network of institutional leaders, capital project stakeholders, and industry partners.
Serve as Principal-in-Charge, Project Executive, or senior project leader on higher education projects from planning through implementation.
Guide design, technical decisions, and quality standards across project teams; prioritize planning and programming; and plan and lead charrettes.
Provide strategic oversight of project execution to align with client goals, budget, schedule, and firm quality standards.
Ensure team accountability for compliance with the BIM Execution Plan and Quality Management System.
Share expertise across offices and teams on state construction processes, public procurement, and campus capital programs.
Support project managers and team leads with client relationships, consultant coordination, and project delivery challenges.
Directly supervise and mentor architects, designers, and project leaders in the higher education practice.
Foster technical development, leadership growth, and knowledge sharing across teams.
Participate in recruiting, hiring, performance feedback, and professional development planning.
Monitor team workload, utilization, and staffing needs to support project success and employee engagement.
Build a collaborative, high-performing culture that encourages innovation, accountability, and professional growth.
Work closely with design leaders to promote and advance an interdisciplinary design approach across offices and with remote employees.
Travel locally and overnight as required.