Higher Education Practice Director

About This Role

This leadership position involves designing and driving the strategic vision, performance, and growth of the firm's Higher Education practice. The Director ensures design excellence, market expansion, and talent development across all studios, working with Managing Principals and senior leadership to position the firm as a leader in higher education design.

Responsibilities

• Embody the firm's core values, demonstrating principles of doing what's right, building synergy, making a difference, and never settling.
• Actively contribute to the Leadership Team by shaping higher education strategy and collaborating on firm-wide goals and initiatives.
• Represent the firm's higher education expertise internally and externally with clarity, purpose, and consistency.
• Partner with Regional Higher Education Practice Leaders and Managing Principals to create a unified approach to design, client engagement, and growth.
• Develop and implement a statewide higher education growth strategy in alignment with firm-wide business goals.
• Set and oversee people, product, and process goals for the higher education practice, ensuring alignment with firmwide objectives.
• Provide ultimate oversight of the firm’s higher education work, ensuring alignment with core values and the Pfluger Proven Process.
• Provide higher education project guidance across studios, serving as a trusted resource to Managing Principals and collaborating with Senior Project Managers.
• Champion design and delivery excellence across all higher education projects.
• Maintain expert knowledge of higher education design trends, regulations, and delivery methods.
• Maintain expert knowledge of applicable codes, regulations, standards, and quality control measures.
• Lead strategic engagements with higher education institutions and serve as a trusted advisor to campus leadership.
• Serve as a primary point of contact on key pursuits and projects, reinforcing client trust and satisfaction.
• Support Managing Principals, Regional Higher Education Practice Leaders, and project teams in delivering consistent, high-quality client experiences.
• Partner with studios to ensure appropriate talent, resources, and design expertise are available across projects.
• Promote firm-wide collaboration and knowledge sharing, supporting ideation and solution development.
• Build and nurture long-term client relationships through direct engagement, ensuring client satisfaction and trust.
• Lead strategic pursuits and provide direction on new client relationships and business development opportunities.
• Oversee the development of proposals, interview strategies, consultant selections, and contract negotiations.
• Maintain oversight of the firm’s higher education pipeline, tracking win/loss data and market positioning using Vantagepoint.
• Analyze practice trends and performance data to inform decision-making and ensure long-term growth and sustainability.
• Represent the firm at higher education conferences and industry events.
• Present regularly at conferences and support publication efforts to elevate the firm’s thought leadership.
• Directly supervise and manage higher education staff per Pfluger People Leader expectations.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to support firm-wide higher education resource planning, hiring needs, and performance management.
• Mentor and support junior staff, providing guidance and fostering a culture of collaboration and professional development.
• Support architectural staff in pursuit of licensure and provide opportunities to earn AXP hours.

Requirements

• Alignment with Pfluger’s purpose of “inspiring people to create a more meaningful human experience,” with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Extensive experience leading higher education projects across all phases, with deep knowledge of design, delivery, and project management best practices.
• Proven ability to lead and grow a successful higher education practice.
• Extensive knowledge of architecture principles and practices.
• Knowledge of higher education design trends, challenges, and opportunities across Texas and beyond.
• Demonstrated proficiency in projects of the greatest size and complexity, ensuring excellence, technical accuracy, and timely delivery.
• Demonstrated success in client engagement and business development within the higher education sector.
• Proficiency in Revit is essential.
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong client relationships.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to engage, mentor, and motivate clients and internal teams.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Extensive knowledge of building codes, regulations, and construction processes.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Professional degree in Architecture required.
• Licensed Architect in the state of Texas is required.
• Minimum of 15 years of architectural experience, with a focus in higher education work.

Nice to have:

• Experience with Bluebeam, Microsoft Office products, and ERP systems is highly preferred.

Important Details

• Schedule: commute 3 days per week to Pfluger’s local office and as required to other offices and client sites.

About the Company

Pfluger is responsible for designing and driving the strategic vision, performance, and growth of its Higher Education practice.