DLR Group
National Mission Critical Client Leader
DLR Group, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place.
Position Summary As a Mission Critical Client Leader, you will play a key role in business development, client stewardship, and project leadership across mission‑critical market sectors. You will be responsible for cultivating long‑term client relationships, leading complex pursuits, structuring contracts, and ensuring the strategic and financial success of multiple concurrent projects.
You will partner closely with Project Managers, Design Leaders, engineering partners, and sector leadership to align client expectations, elevate project delivery, and ensure seamless communication from pursuit to completion. In addition, you will support and mentor teams, contribute to strategic planning, and reinforce DLR Group’s integrated design culture.
The Successful Candidate Will Lead Client Relationships & Strategic Growth
Cultivate and expand relationships with mission‑critical clients, hyperscale operators, colocation providers, and critical operations agencies
Serve as a trusted advisor, deeply understanding client mission, technical requirements, risk profiles, and operational priorities
Lead strategic pursuits, including qualification packages, proposals, interviews, and relationship‑building initiatives
Drive Project & Financial Success
Guide project execution from early strategy through post‑occupancy, ensuring alignment with quality, schedule, and budget goals
Partner with Project Managers on staffing plans, fee development, resourcing, and scope management
Oversee invoicing, accounts receivable, and financial performance across multiple projects and clients
Manage contract negotiations, amendments, and change requests with a focus on clarity, transparency, and value
Champion Integrated Project Delivery
Collaborate closely with Design Leaders, engineers, and technical specialists to integrate client goals with design excellence
Facilitate decision‑making and communication across internal and external teams
Support seamless coordination between technical disciplines, vendors, and specialty consultants unique to mission‑critical delivery
Serve as a Mission Critical Market Voice
Represent DLR Group in industry organizations, thought‑leadership forums, and client events
Monitor industry trends, including energy, resiliency, sustainability, cybersecurity, and technology, to inform client solutions
Help position DLR Group as a leader in the mission‑critical space through relationships, advocacy, and market intelligence
Inspire Teams & Elevate Practice Culture
Foster a collaborative and accountable team environment with a focus on client service and technical excellence
Mentor staff on client engagement, proposal strategy, and project leadership skills
Support the advancement of DLR Group’s integrated design model and ESOP culture
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Construction Management, or a related field (professional licensure or certification strongly preferred)
10+ years of AEC industry experience, including 5+ years in a client‑facing role and proven experience in mission‑critical or technically intensive sectors
Experience managing large‑scale programs or portfolios for mission‑critical, industrial, or hyperscale clients
Strong understanding of business development, contract negotiation, financial management, and project delivery practices
Excellent communication, relationship‑building, and presentation skills
Ability to travel occasionally to support client and project needs
Must be eligible to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship
Benefits Our comprehensive benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills. The suggested pay range for this position is $145,000 - $185,000 USD.
About DLR Group DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects. We are 100% employee‑owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value‑based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.
DLR Group follows a four‑day in‑office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Other
Architecture and Planning
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Position Summary As a Mission Critical Client Leader, you will play a key role in business development, client stewardship, and project leadership across mission‑critical market sectors. You will be responsible for cultivating long‑term client relationships, leading complex pursuits, structuring contracts, and ensuring the strategic and financial success of multiple concurrent projects.
You will partner closely with Project Managers, Design Leaders, engineering partners, and sector leadership to align client expectations, elevate project delivery, and ensure seamless communication from pursuit to completion. In addition, you will support and mentor teams, contribute to strategic planning, and reinforce DLR Group’s integrated design culture.
The Successful Candidate Will Lead Client Relationships & Strategic Growth
Cultivate and expand relationships with mission‑critical clients, hyperscale operators, colocation providers, and critical operations agencies
Serve as a trusted advisor, deeply understanding client mission, technical requirements, risk profiles, and operational priorities
Lead strategic pursuits, including qualification packages, proposals, interviews, and relationship‑building initiatives
Drive Project & Financial Success
Guide project execution from early strategy through post‑occupancy, ensuring alignment with quality, schedule, and budget goals
Partner with Project Managers on staffing plans, fee development, resourcing, and scope management
Oversee invoicing, accounts receivable, and financial performance across multiple projects and clients
Manage contract negotiations, amendments, and change requests with a focus on clarity, transparency, and value
Champion Integrated Project Delivery
Collaborate closely with Design Leaders, engineers, and technical specialists to integrate client goals with design excellence
Facilitate decision‑making and communication across internal and external teams
Support seamless coordination between technical disciplines, vendors, and specialty consultants unique to mission‑critical delivery
Serve as a Mission Critical Market Voice
Represent DLR Group in industry organizations, thought‑leadership forums, and client events
Monitor industry trends, including energy, resiliency, sustainability, cybersecurity, and technology, to inform client solutions
Help position DLR Group as a leader in the mission‑critical space through relationships, advocacy, and market intelligence
Inspire Teams & Elevate Practice Culture
Foster a collaborative and accountable team environment with a focus on client service and technical excellence
Mentor staff on client engagement, proposal strategy, and project leadership skills
Support the advancement of DLR Group’s integrated design model and ESOP culture
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Construction Management, or a related field (professional licensure or certification strongly preferred)
10+ years of AEC industry experience, including 5+ years in a client‑facing role and proven experience in mission‑critical or technically intensive sectors
Experience managing large‑scale programs or portfolios for mission‑critical, industrial, or hyperscale clients
Strong understanding of business development, contract negotiation, financial management, and project delivery practices
Excellent communication, relationship‑building, and presentation skills
Ability to travel occasionally to support client and project needs
Must be eligible to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship
Benefits Our comprehensive benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills. The suggested pay range for this position is $145,000 - $185,000 USD.
About DLR Group DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects. We are 100% employee‑owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value‑based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.
DLR Group follows a four‑day in‑office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Other
Architecture and Planning
#J-18808-Ljbffr