Office Technical Leader - Health

HKS, Inc.•Seattle, WA

About The Position

Overview: HKS Seattle is seeking an Office Technical Leader to join our Health team. Responsible for advancing Design Excellence (as defined by the Design Enterprise as the intersection of Beauty and Performance) for the respective office. Must ensure, and participate in critical technical design dialog across all project teams within the office and evaluate the quality of office work against the strategic plan. The Office Technical Leader often participates or leads in multiple projects concurrently. The role focuses on growing technical leadership skills related to relationship-building, collaboration and interpersonal skills while working on great projects for exceptional clients. Responsibilities: Accountable for: Technical design quality for every project they actively work on, holding teams accountable for technical quality for projects in the office Partnership with technical leaders in their office to build and enhance a technical design culture Implementation of Design Excellence within their office in collaboration with Office Design Leader, ensuring the Framework for Design Excellence is addressed in every project in their office and performance goals are achieved Collaboration with project teams to improve overall quality of work product in office by guiding, advising and mentoring other architects/designers Collaboration with Office, Regional and Practice Leadership as well as Director of Technical Design to ensure a constant focus on improving technical design quality Has authority to: See, evaluate, and provide feedback to all projects in the office Challenge technical solutions to ensure design quality and performance Recommend to the Regional Technical Director, Studio Practice Leader, and PIC when a project that should be redirected as it is not performing to the level that HKS requires Participate in and influence selection and performance evaluation for architects/designers within the office Scope Hosts office technical meetings to develop technical culture and curiosity within the office Utilizes and promotes project pin-ups to improve overall quality of work product in respective office, in collaboration with teams such as HKS Innovation teams, Technical Resource Group (TRG), Construction Administration (CA), etc. Ensures that sustainability is integrated into the Project Technical Methodology for all Projects within their office Acts as the technical-go-to resource to all the teams in respective office, assisting in the resolution of complex technical problems, and helping them grow in their roles Invests in and influences the technical quality of all HKS projects firmwide, including elevating other technical architects/designers in their respective expertise Collaborates with leaders such as Project Manager, Studio Practice Leader, and Regional Technical Director to lead their team(s) through all phases by guiding, advising and mentoring other architects/designers on project work Participates in quarterly Regional Technical Excellence Meetings to discuss and review innovative work within the region in the spirit of continuous improvement Emphasizes and incorporates HKS strategic priorities, such as Design Measures into client solutions Operates with “ONE Firm” mindset, minimizes the sector and operational variables within the office in collaboration with technical and design leaders Integrates HKS services, expertise, and innovation in all projects, while actively seeking opportunities to incorporate HKS best practices, sustainable design solutions, subject matter expertise and resources strategically and efficiently for the client, user and community Exercises skills of persuasion and negotiation on critical issues Qualifications: Education and Experience Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design, related degree for respective field, or relevant years in education or experience Typically, 15+ years of experience, including experience in a leadership role with demonstrated success in both project work and talent/resource development Licenses and Certifications Licensure or certification in chosen field strongly preferred Sustainable design accreditation strongly preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Advanced – expert-level experience, knowledge or skills Intermediate – experience, knowledge or skills required to produce high-quality solutions or work Basic – familiar with primary concepts or capabilities and may perform elementary functions depending on role Intermediate experience in the capability and benefits of design-related software, with constant curiosity of ever-changing technology Intermediate skills in MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Project and Microsoft Teams preferred Advanced technical skills, materials application, building codes, building systems, and engineering systems knowledge Advanced knowledge of project design, construction documentation, and construction materials Proficiency in logistics management including connecting people and resources to the right place at the right time Advanced presentation skills Advanced leadership, communication and relationship management skills Advanced organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time Advanced ability in success building, nurturing and fostering internal and external relationships Intermediate ability to work closely with design & technical leaders to promote an inter-disciplinary design approach and philosophy, and to facilitate its advancement across the firm Intermediate ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external Advanced ability to communicate in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing Advanced ability to problem solve and apply innovative solutions Advanced ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment Advanced ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality Travel may be required #LI-KT1 If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal. HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran We recommend selecting the location and/or country before selecting a job title when performing a search. Click on the link to drop your contact information and resume here so that your data becomes searchable for new positions! HKS is a global firm of architects, designers, planners and advisors who create places noted for their beauty and performance. Our 1,600 people in 29 offices are united by the belief that an environmental, social and governance approach to design achieves design excellence. In 2023, we became a carbon neutral firm. We value honesty, diversity and inclusion and we celebrate creative thinking. In partnership with our clients and collaborators, we craft powerful ideas and solutions. Together we create places that stand apart. HKS, Inc. provides reasonable accommodation in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with HKS, Inc. and need assistance applying for a posted position due to your disability, you may email us. Please use "Accommodation Request" as the subject line of your e-mail. For more information on what the Equal Employment Opportunity law encompasses, please click on the following links: EEO is the Law and Supplement. The following link is the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination policy statement.

Requirements

Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design, related degree for respective field, or relevant years in education or experience
Typically, 15+ years of experience, including experience in a leadership role with demonstrated success in both project work and talent/resource development
Advanced technical skills, materials application, building codes, building systems, and engineering systems knowledge
Advanced knowledge of project design, construction documentation, and construction materials
Proficiency in logistics management including connecting people and resources to the right place at the right time
Advanced presentation skills
Advanced leadership, communication and relationship management skills
Advanced organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
Advanced ability in success building, nurturing and fostering internal and external relationships
Advanced ability to communicate in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing
Advanced ability to problem solve and apply innovative solutions
Advanced ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment
Advanced ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality
Travel may be required

Nice To Haves

Licensure or certification in chosen field strongly preferred
Sustainable design accreditation strongly preferred
Intermediate experience in the capability and benefits of design-related software, with constant curiosity of ever-changing technology
Intermediate skills in MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Project and Microsoft Teams preferred
Intermediate ability to work closely with design & technical leaders to promote an inter-disciplinary design approach and philosophy, and to facilitate its advancement across the firm
Intermediate ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external

Responsibilities

Accountable for: Technical design quality for every project they actively work on, holding teams accountable for technical quality for projects in the office
Partnership with technical leaders in their office to build and enhance a technical design culture
Implementation of Design Excellence within their office in collaboration with Office Design Leader, ensuring the Framework for Design Excellence is addressed in every project in their office and performance goals are achieved
Collaboration with project teams to improve overall quality of work product in office by guiding, advising and mentoring other architects/designers
Collaboration with Office, Regional and Practice Leadership as well as Director of Technical Design to ensure a constant focus on improving technical design quality
See, evaluate, and provide feedback to all projects in the office
Challenge technical solutions to ensure design quality and performance
Recommend to the Regional Technical Director, Studio Practice Leader, and PIC when a project that should be redirected as it is not performing to the level that HKS requires
Participate in and influence selection and performance evaluation for architects/designers within the office
Hosts office technical meetings to develop technical culture and curiosity within the office
Utilizes and promotes project pin-ups to improve overall quality of work product in respective office, in collaboration with teams such as HKS Innovation teams, Technical Resource Group (TRG), Construction Administration (CA), etc.
Ensures that sustainability is integrated into the Project Technical Methodology for all Projects within their office
Acts as the technical-go-to resource to all the teams in respective office, assisting in the resolution of complex technical problems, and helping them grow in their roles
Invests in and influences the technical quality of all HKS projects firmwide, including elevating other technical architects/designers in their respective expertise
Collaborates with leaders such as Project Manager, Studio Practice Leader, and Regional Technical Director to lead their team(s) through all phases by guiding, advising and mentoring other architects/designers on project work
Participates in quarterly Regional Technical Excellence Meetings to discuss and review innovative work within the region in the spirit of continuous improvement
Emphasizes and incorporates HKS strategic priorities, such as Design Measures into client solutions
Operates with “ONE Firm” mindset, minimizes the sector and operational variables within the office in collaboration with technical and design leaders
Integrates HKS services, expertise, and innovation in all projects, while actively seeking opportunities to incorporate HKS best practices, sustainable design solutions, subject matter expertise and resources strategically and efficiently for the client, user and community
Exercises skills of persuasion and negotiation on critical issues