Digital Practice Leader

Overview:

Responsible for defining and implementing the digital strategy and technical vision for an individual practice within a global sector. Aligns Global Leadership priorities with practice-level objectives by applying advanced technical expertise and process excellence to strengthen the digital practice. Collaborates with Practice, Regional, and Studio leaders to ensure the practice fully leverages digital technologies, data, and technical workflows to deliver design excellence, operational efficiency, and innovation. Serves as the digital and technical authority within the practice—bridging business strategy, design delivery, and emerging technologies to position HKS as a global leader in digital design.

Responsibilities :

• Owns practice-wide standards, methods, and digital governance, ensuring consistency and quality across all projects
• Guides the integration of digital practice, computational design, visualization, simulation, and data analytics tools to support design excellence and efficient delivery
• Partners with Technical and Design Enterprise teams to advance digital workflows that align with HKS’s design and technical standards
• Evaluates emerging tools and technologies for relevance and scalability within the practice
• Facilitates collaboration between design teams and digital specialists to solve complex project challenges
• Ensures project teams are trained and equipped to apply digital tools effectively throughout all phases of design and construction
• Promotes interoperability, automation, and data continuity between design platforms, project management systems, and client-facing technologies
• Drives continuous improvement across initiatives and provides feedback to refine firmwide standards and strategies
• Engages with project teams for targeted support on complex or high-priority initiatives
• Cultivates a culture of innovation, technical curiosity, and continuous learning within the practice
• Mentors and empower digital and technical leaders across the practice, supporting long-term succession planning, leadership growth, and knowledge sharing
• Partners with Leadership to recruit, retain, and grow diverse digital and technical talent
• Champions sustainable and responsible digital practices to strengthen the firm’s collective intelligence
• Partners with practice leadership to forecast and manage budgets and firmwide resource allocation related to digital tools, staffing, and R&D investments
• Identifies opportunities to improve project profitability and delivery efficiency through digital workflows and data insights
• Advises on fee strategies that reflect the added value of digital innovation and performance-based services
• Monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) for digital maturity, project efficiency, and quality across the practice
• Positions the firm as a thought leader in digital design, technical innovation, and performance-driven delivery
• Advises firm and sector leadership on digital transformation while representing HKS at industry events to share insights and elevate the firm’s visibility
• Builds and maintains relationships with clients, partners, and technology providers to identify emerging trends and collaboration opportunities
• Develops content and case studies that showcase digital excellence and reinforce HKS’s global leadership in technology-enabled design

Qualifications:

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, or related field; advanced degree preferred
• Typically 8+ years of experience in the AEC industry, including leadership in both project delivery and technology innovation
• Licensure or certification in chosen field preferred
• Proven expertise in design technology, computational design, data analytics, and other emerging digital technologies relevant to architecture and design
• Strong understanding of construction practices, building systems, and delivery methodologies
• Proven ability to produce quality construction documents 
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite preferred 
• Demonstrated success in implementing digital transformation and innovation at scale across global teams
• Proven ability to deliver business changes through the innovative use of data and technology 
• Proven ability to direct complex, multi-project initiatives across distributed teams to achieve strategic objectives
• Proven ability to optimize resource allocation and team connectivity across global operations
• Commitment to sustainability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement
• Proven ability to lead with diplomacy and collaboration in a global matrixed environment, managing teams with a relationship-focused leadership style
• Drives strategic problem-solving and innovation to advance organizational goals
• Advanced presentation and thought leadership skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas simply and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all levels of staff 
• Delivers high-quality, accurate results while consistently meeting deadlines
• Travel may be required.