Higher Education Practice Director

Department: Client Engagement

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Texas

Description

Role & Responsibilities:

• Embody Pfluger’s core values. Consistently demonstrate the principles of Do What’s Right, Build Synergy, Make a Difference, and Never Settle in all professional activities.
•  Actively contribute to the Leadership Team by shaping the firm’s higher education strategy and collaborating on firm-wide goals and initiatives. 
• Represent Pfluger’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 Pfluger’s core values and the Pfluger Proven Process.
• Provide higher education project guidance across Pfluger’s studios. Serve as a trusted resource to Managing Principals and collaborate with Senior Project Managers to support higher education pursuits and projects.
• Champion design and delivery excellence across all higher education projects.
• Maintain expert knowledge of higher education design trends, regulations, and delivery methods to support firm-wide consistency and quality.
• 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 at the highest level.
• 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. Support ideation and solution development across the firm.

• As a firm ambassador, build and nurture long-term client relationships through direct engagement. Ensure client satisfaction and trust is maintained throughout all stages of a project.
• Lead strategic pursuits and provide direction on new client relationships and business development opportunities. Pursue potential client opportunities that align with strategic priorities.
• 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 Pfluger at higher education conferences and industry events. Present regularly at conferences and support publication efforts to elevate the firm’s thought leadership, sharing expertise with clients and the industry.

• Directly supervise and manager higher education staff per Pfluger People Leader expectations (see addendum). 
• 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.

Experience & Qualifications:

• 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. Experience with Bluebeam, Microsoft Office products, and ERP systems is highly preferred.
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong client relationships, ensuring trust and long-term engagement. 
• 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. 

Location: