Chicago UDPLA Studio Lead

HDR • Chicago, IL

4h

About The Position

HDR is an employee-owned, multidisciplinary firm with over 225 locations worldwide, including landscape architects, architects, engineers, scientists, planners, and urban designers. We are seeking a Studio Lead for our Urban Design, Planning and Landscape Architecture (UDPLA) studio in Chicago. HDR’s UDPLA Business Class comprises over 70 urban designers, planners, and landscape architects across 18 design centers in North America. We believe architecture extends beyond designing buildings to providing solutions for societal challenges and fostering stronger, more vibrant communities. As part of HDR’s Architecture practice, you will contribute to designing and delivering spaces and experiences that enhance community well-being globally. Your work will influence how individuals interact with the world, from healing environments and learning spaces to research labs, civic landmarks, and infrastructure. We bring together architects, planners, designers, and technical experts to tackle complex design challenges with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. By championing design excellence with a focus on resilience and sustainability and pioneering innovative building technologies, your contributions will leave a lasting impact on the built environment. This role offers an opportunity to drive meaningful change and help shape the future of our communities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 7 years experience
• Professional registration, license or certification may be required based on role
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Ability to handle multiple assignments
• Good leadership and organizational skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree and/or master’s degree in landscape architecture, urban planning or urban design from an accredited university
• 10+ years of collaborative, multidisciplinary design team experience demonstrating leadership in urban design, planning or landscape architecture on a variety of project types and scales
• Licensed as a Landscape Architect in the state of Illinois.
• Experience and passion for sustainable and regenerative design
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, client and team engagement skills
• Strong team leadership, mentoring, motivational, organizational and time management skills
• Experience working in all design phases, including site analysis, site planning, grading and drainage, conceptual design, construction documentation and construction observation
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite
• Extensive knowledge and experience with local and regional markets

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for studio operations and design production, including work planning and projections, quality and technical excellence
• Supervise, mentor and develop staff, including inspiring positive morale, professional development, technical training, recruiting and retention
• Develop strong internal and external client relationships; engage in business development and marketing efforts to win work
• Function as project manager and/or project task lead on concurrent projects, championing design excellence and quality project delivery
• Proactively collaborate across urban design, landscape architecture and planning disciplines, as well as partner with other disciplines at HDR to support business development and project delivery
• Work cooperatively with other UDPLA studio leads and the Regional Lead to support workshare, practice growth and implementation of key initiatives
• Implement, monitor and support company policy, including QMS procedures and collaboration with area leadership on related audits and project reviews
• Actively participate in relevant design and community activities that further HDR’s brand

Benefits

• employee owned
• Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals)

What This Job Offers

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