Senior Designer

Overview:

A recognized leader who is responsible for envisioning, designing and delivering exceptional projects for clients. Possesses strong communication skills, a flexible attitude, ability to solve problems creatively and ability to foster and manage effective client relationships. Responsible for high-impact decisions. Coordinates with design talent across the firm and industry to elevate the quality of work overall. Endorses the firm’s values by personally influencing client service, innovation and communication. Acts as subject matter expert for design solutions.

About HKS Atlanta:
The Atlanta office, founded in 2000 and represents 9 of HKS’ practice areas, including Health, Mixed-use, Aviation, Cities & Communities, Education, Senior Living, Sports & Entertainment and Mission Critical. Our 85 staff members come from over a dozen countries and speak as many languages. Our staff are leaders at both a national and local level, participating in organizations such as the Urban Land Institute, American Institute of Architects, Commercial Real Estate Women, American Academy of Healthcare Architects and NAIOP. We are well-established thought leaders, participating in research, industry interviews, podcasts, panel discussions and authoring articles for institutions such as the Atlanta Design Festival, CKLDP, World Architecture Festival, Forbes Magazine, the New York Times, Urban Land, Building Design + Construction, and many more. Our people and projects have been recognized at a local, national and international level, including most recently AIA Atlanta 2024 Firm of the Year.

The ideal candidate is a passionate and inquisitive designer who draws inspiration from diverse disciplines beyond architecture, approaching every challenge with fearless curiosity. They demonstrate a sophisticated and process-driven approach, ensuring their designs are both clear and well-executed. Their communication—graphic, verbal and written—is thoughtful and articulate. With impeccable presentation skills, they exhibit an intuitive sense of composition and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring every design, project presentation, and visual element is curated with precision and professionalism.

Responsibilities:

• Acts as lead designer on multiple projects developing conceptual design, presentations and implementation documents
• Guides and directs multiple project teams to manage the development of design throughout design development and implementation documents
• Establishes the vision and sets project goals in conjunction with the client and project team
• Leads design effort and client presentations to develop and support client relationships
• Exercises skills of persuasion and negotiation on critical issues
• Develops creative design concepts for projects and expands on concepts of others
• Manages design solutions based on industry standard construction techniques and engineering principals
• Oversees schematic land and site planning drawings with graphic content to convey ideas, methodologies and approaches for marketing and proposal requests
• Oversees the development of and may modify and/or review graphic presentations, 3D rendering and implementation documents to incorporate the design intent
• Oversees delivery of complete project design presentation to client user group or public forum
• Coordinates with consultants, contractors, fabricators, furniture dealers and regulatory agencies to meet overall project objectives; manages project details with consulting design or engineering firms
• Resolves complex design issues with innovative and practical solutions to maintain goals and objectives of projects
• Works with respective teams to manage client expectations, team communication and consultant coordination
• Oversees product research and directs project designers with materials and systems evaluation to make proper selections
• Leads and collaborates in team meetings to discuss project issues, technical issues and coordination with other disciplines

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design or related field
• Typically 15+ years of experience

Licenses and Certifications

• Architectural registration strongly preferred
• Sustainable design accreditation preferred

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 can perform elementary functions

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge in 3D modeling in a variety of software platforms such as Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, CATIA, etc. preferred
• Intermediate skills in Navis and Bluebeam required
• Intermediate skills in Twinmotion, Enscape or other visualization tools required
• Advanced experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign required
• Intermediate skills in in MS Office Suite required; Advanced preferred
• Advanced experience with managing a team and performing duties in a fast-paced environment required
• Advanced knowledge of materials, construction techniques , building codes and QA/QC process
• Advanced experience with the entire project lifecycle, through post-occupancy required
• Advanced knowledge of sustainability and integrated design guidelines required
• Advanced knowledge of the appropriate use of building systems, materials and technologies record required
• Intermediate knowledge of furniture, furnishings and equipment (FF&E) and Environmental Graphic process required
• Advanced knowledge of architectural building systems, applicable codes and regulations required
• Advanced presentation skills and graphic and visualization skills to communicate design ideas required
• Advanced organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time required
• Advanced ability to maintain existing client relationships and build new client relationships required
• Advanced ability to communicate in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing required
• Advanced ability to problem solve and apply innovative solutions required
• Advanced ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment required
• Advanced ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality required
• Travel may be required

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