Regional Practice Leader - Transit & Transportation Architecture

Perkins&Will is seeking an accomplished, dynamic, and motivated Regional Practice Leader and Market Builder for Transit and Transportation Architecture in the US Central Region, with a functional role as Managing Principal. This senior leadership opportunity focuses on shaping, growing, and leading the firm’s transit architecture practice across the Central Region, while remaining directly engaged in the leadership and delivery of complex, high‑profile transit and transportation projects.

• Develop and drive a regional strategic business plan for transit architecture in collaboration with the Firmwide Practice Leader, Regional Director, Studio Managing Directors, and Studio Practice Leaders.
• Guide studios in shaping Strategic Action Plans (SAPs), sales strategies, and investment priorities aligned with firmwide objectives.
• Lead client engagement, business development, and strategic pursuits, including capture planning, teaming strategies, and execution.
• Make informed go/no‑go decisions and shape long‑term account strategies to grow a sustainable regional practice.

• Provide senior leadership and accountability on select transit and transportation projects from concept through construction and, where applicable, operations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, bringing sound business judgment and strategic oversight to complex projects.
• Ensure excellence in design quality, client experience, financial performance, and risk management.
• Work closely with Design Principals, Project Managers, and technical leaders to translate practice vision into successful project outcomes.

• Partner with studio and regional leadership on strategic hiring, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Leverage regional talent effectively across pursuits and project delivery.
• Mentor emerging leaders and strengthen the regional leadership bench, building a diverse and sustainable talent pipeline.

• Advance Perkins&Will’s leadership in transit and transportation architecture through insights on industry trends, innovation, sustainability, and equity.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Practice Leaders to elevate thought leadership, exemplar work, and individual expertise through external communications and media.

• Foster collaboration, shared learning, and alignment across studios and with other Regional Practice Leaders.
• Champion a culture of Living Design excellence and innovation, ensuring the firm’s values are embedded across pursuits, projects, and public engagement.

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in transportation architecture
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture
• Active architectural licensure
• Proven record of growing and leading a high-impact transportation architecture practice, including winning work and shaping markets
• Strong network of relationships with transit agencies, partners, and community stakeholders in the US Central Region
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance long‑term vision and near‑term execution
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

You are passionate about how transportation, infrastructure, and design can create more equitable, sustainable, and resilient communities. You bring strategic insight, market credibility, and collaborative leadership to complex public‑sector environments, and you are energized by building teams, strengthening client partnerships, and delivering meaningful, lasting impact.

We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, competitive and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions include but are not limited to a candidate’s qualifications. At the time of posting this job advertisement, commensurate with qualifications, the annual pay salary range for this position in the areas posted is between $165,000 and $200,000.