Higher Education Client Leader

As a Client Leader at DLR Group, you will lead client engagement from pursuit and marketing through project completion for our Higher Education practice. You will serve as a trusted relationship leader for a major university client in the Columbus market while collaborating with integrated design teams to create environments that elevate the student, faculty, and campus experience.

About Higher Education at DLR Group

DLR Group’s Higher Education practice fully embraces our responsibility to society by designing spaces that emphasize academic learning and social development. We are transforming the educational landscape, working with our clients to set new horizons for learning and living that enrich campus communities, the spaces they strive to provide, and what they can achieve.

Our team draws from evidence-based design and works with stakeholders to positively influence student and faculty engagement, ensuring that learning is enhanced through design. We also understand the rapid pace of technological, social, and cultural change; our teams partner with institutions to navigate these challenges.

Our Higher Education expertise spans campus planning, student life and libraries, science and technology, workforce training, arts, athletics and recreation. Through our ongoing Evolution of Campus research, we translate insights from institutions, students, educators, and employers into design strategies that support learning, wellbeing, belonging, and career readiness.

In Columbus, this role will build on an established portfolio of complex academic, research, arts, and student-life environments. You will have the opportunity to pair strong local client leadership with DLR Group’s national Higher Education expertise and integrated design resources.

Position Summary

In this role, you will be the primary point of contact and trusted advisor for a significant university client, maintaining consistent engagement throughout the project lifecycle and developing a deep understanding of the client’s goals, culture, and long-term campus priorities. You will lead business development, contract negotiations, and client communication while partnering with Project Managers to support project quality, financial performance, schedule, and successful delivery.

The ideal candidate is a licensed architect or credentialed interior designer with experience leading complex Higher Education projects and multidisciplinary teams. This individual will bring a relationship-focused, entrepreneurial mindset and a “doer-seller” approach: contributing to project strategy and design while strengthening client relationships and supporting the continued growth of DLR Group’s Higher Education practice in Columbus and the broader region.

The successful candidate will:

• Serve as the primary relationship leader and trusted advisor for a major university client, building strong connections with executive, facilities, academic, and user-group stakeholders.
• Lead client engagement from pursuit and contract development through design, construction, and project closeout.
• Guide integrated teams across architecture, interiors, engineering, planning, and specialty services to deliver a coordinated and responsive client experience.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager to establish and maintain project work plans, schedules, staffing strategies, financial goals, and quality expectations.
• Lead contract negotiations, approve contract changes, and help manage risk throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain regular client communication, proactively address concerns, and ensure the team remains aligned with the client’s goals and priorities.
• Ensure timely processing of invoices and partner with clients to support prompt payment.
• Shape and lead design, planning, and client strategy for Higher Education opportunities in Columbus, Ohio, and the broader region.
• Support sector growth in collaboration with local and national Higher Education leaders and business development professionals.
• Contribute directly to project strategy, programming, planning, design, and presentations as an engaged “doer-seller.”
• Ensure DLR Group practice standards and quality expectations are followed throughout the duration of each project.
• Mentor team members and participate in recruiting, training, onboarding, and professional development.
• Travel as project and client needs require.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as a Project Manager, Client Leader, or comparable design professional.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple Higher Education projects in a client-facing role, including complex projects for colleges, universities, or large institutional clients.
• Proven ability to serve as the primary client contact and lead multidisciplinary teams through all phases of project delivery.
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Interior Design.
• Active architectural license or professional interior design credential appropriate to the discipline, such as NCIDQ certification.
• Experience with business development, contract negotiations, project financial performance, and client relationship management.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without the need for work visa or residency sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a major public university or similarly complex institutional client.
• Knowledge of the Columbus, Central Ohio, or Midwest Higher Education market and an established local professional network.
• Experience with academic buildings, research and teaching environments, student life, campus planning, arts, housing, or related campus project types.
• Experience delivering renovations, adaptive reuse, phased work, or projects on active and occupied campuses.
• A demonstrated “doer-seller” approach that combines project leadership, design engagement, client development, and market growth.