Director, Pediatrics

Director, Pediatrics

The Director will set the vision and guide the strategic growth of HDR's Pediatric Practice while maintaining an active, hands‑on role in project leadership. This leader will champion environments that support whole‑child health, family‑centered care, clinical excellence, and positive developmental outcomes, advancing innovative, evidence‑informed, and human‑centered pediatric design across the full continuum of care.

The Director will be responsible for practice development, leadership, and project involvement across HDR's pediatric healthcare portfolio, which includes children’s hospitals, pediatric specialty and subspecialty care, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, outpatient and ambulatory care, behavioral and developmental services, and integrated women’s and children’s facilities. The Director will collaborate closely with global Health Sector leadership, regional and studio leaders, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure consistency, innovation, and measurable impact across the firm.

Primary Responsibilities

• Practice Development: Define and execute the long‑term vision and growth strategy for the pediatric practice.
• Practice Leadership: Advance design excellence, innovation, and consistency across all pediatric work firmwide.
• Project Leadership: Maintain a meaningful role in projects to ensure real‑world application of practice priorities, clinical insight, and core values.

Practice Development

• Grow HDR's Pediatric Practice within the Health Sector while supporting collaboration across Architecture, Planning, Engineering, and other business groups.
• Strengthen HDR's position as a recognized leader in pediatric healthcare planning and design, focusing on whole child health, family engagement, safety, adaptability, and operational excellence.
• Inspire staff at all levels to contribute to the growth, innovation, and evolution of pediatric design expertise.
• Develop, nurture, and sustain strong relationships with children’s hospitals, healthcare systems, academic medical centers, pediatric providers, and community partners.
• Evaluate, mentor, and recruit professionals to build and strengthen a high‑performing, specialized pediatric practice team.
• Lead business development and marketing efforts in coordination with Health Sector and regional leadership.
• Represent HDR through industry engagement, research, publications, and speaking opportunities focused on pediatric healthcare.
• Expand relationships across clinical, academic, research, and advocacy communities supporting child health and wellness.
• Develop and implement annual and multi‑year business plans aligned with HDR's Health Sector strategy.

Practice Leadership

• Collaborate with architecture, planning, and design leadership to establish shared goals for excellence in pediatric environments.
• Advance design approaches that support child development, family‑centered care, safety, infection control, flexibility, and long‑term adaptability.
• Promote inclusive and equitable environments that address the diverse needs of children and families across cultures, abilities, and life stages.
• Ensure HDR's commitments to sustainability, resilience, and regenerative design are integrated into pediatric healthcare solutions.
• Assess talent, capabilities, and organizational structure to position the pediatric practice for long‑term growth and innovation.
• Develop strategies and frameworks that support consistency, scalability, and delivery excellence across regions.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement initiatives that elevate practice performance and outcomes.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, mentorship, and accountability across interdisciplinary teams.
• Work collaboratively with marketing and pursuit teams to develop compelling materials that support both pre‑positioning and active pursuits.

Project Leadership

• Provide direct project expertise and leadership on pediatric healthcare projects.
• Offer design oversight, technical guidance, and thought leadership across all phases of work.
• Establish and uphold processes that ensure consistent quality, innovation, and excellence across pediatric projects firmwide.
• Lead teams in understanding the impact of design decisions on child and family experience, safety, clinical outcomes, staff effectiveness, and operational performance.
• Support client relationship management and guide teams in achieving project goals, schedules, and expectations.
• Provide strategic problem solving and leadership support as project needs arise.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in pediatric health projects as a subject‑matter expert.
• Registered Architect.
• Familiar with current trends in pediatric healthcare delivery.
• Able to lead a team on projects and make client presentations.
• Experience in successfully developing and executing targeted market and client strategies.
• Desire to work towards the integration of holistic sustainable processes into design projects at early design stages.
• Experience in sustainable and/or regenerative design.
• Experience and understanding of basic building physics, low‑carbon materials, and high‑performance design strategies.
• Advanced credentialing desired (e.g., ACHA, LEED, EDAC).
• Willing to travel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of industry experience, including leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong client management and client development skills, with a documented history of growing/leading a practice.
• Strong business skills; specifically handling budgets, staff, and operational issues.
• Strong ability to analyze the marketplace and strategically position HDR.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. Pay range will vary by location.

At HDR, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. In accordance with local safety, health, and environmental legislation, HDR is committed to developing, maintaining, and enforcing proactive safe work policies, procedures, and standards. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and other applicable legislation, we are committed to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. Candidates with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process by contacting our Human Resources team. HDR is a certified Living Wage Employer in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.