Design Director, Sports & Recreation

Design Director, Sports & Recreation - (192019)

• Develop highly innovative, creative, integrated and effective design solutions
• Have an established design reputation evident through design awards, publications, education or other venues, and positive client references
• Guide initial design concepts and ideas from pursuit and selection through successful project completion on multiple projects
• Meet design excellence goals while meeting management goals and project budgets
• Teach and train other designers and interdisciplinary AE project teams in the essentials of design excellence and in the critical tenets of HDR's Design Philosophy
• Mentor and develop junior design staff, challenging, inspiring and/or motivating others to join in the constant pursuit of design excellence
• Be a key design leader who must have the vision and attitude to lead design efforts while effectively partnering with the global design director, office management, project management, and AEP discipline leaders on all efforts
• Capable of identifying, attracting and retaining key design staff, and will be responsible for targeting and developing strategies for hiring senior and junior design talent
• Be active in local, national or international professional design related organizations

• Masters in Architecture or closely related field
• Experience functioning as a lead designer on a variety of project scales and complexities
• Experience on large-scale projects, including stadiums, arenas, training facilities in the intercollegiate athletics market and professional market
• Experience and/or interest in sustainable design/LEED
• Willing to travel

• Bachelors in Architecture or closely related field
• A minimum of 15 years experience functioning as a lead designer on a variety of project scales and complexities
• Maintains professional architectural registration
• Proven track record of winning project pursuits and maintaining strong client relationships
• Experience in leading a collaborative, iterative design process with clients and colleagues
• Experience and/or interest in integrating sustainable building design
• Demonstrated experience with the Design Excellence Program as operated through the GSA's Public Buildings Service (PBS)
• Excellent leadership and mentoring skills
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Must be capable of leading a team and making client presentations
• Ability to collaborate and integrate with existing team
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

United States – Missouri – Kansas City

Full-time

Regular

Apr 10, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest, and conviction records.