Behavioral Health Design Leader

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 SummaryWe are seeking an experienced Behavioral Health Design Leader to join DLR Group's Justice + Civic national practice. In this role, you will lead the planning and design of facilities that promote healing, equity, and transformation through behavioral health-focused design solutions. DLR Group operates within a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between office time and work from home. DLR Group has a network of 30+ studios across the United States. For this role, we encourage exceptional applicants across the ecosystem. About Justice + Civic at DLR Group As a nationally recognized expert in Justice + Civic facility planning and design, DLR Group serves municipal, county, state, and federal public-sector clients to deliver civic, public safety, and justice design solutions that achieve excellence in operations, sustainable design, resilience planning, space planning, building assessment, cost of ownership analysis, and project management. Behavioral health facility planning and design is a growing specialty in our portfolio. As stewards of the built environment, DLR Group's Justice + Civic practice elevates behavioral, environmental, and social betterment, resulting in healing, equity, and transformation for the individual and community.What You Will Do:Collaboratively work with integrated teams of architects, engineers and specialty consultantsLead preliminary planning and design for behavioral health facilities within community, justice and civic environmentsCreate functional layouts integrating therapeutic design principles, de-escalation strategies, and security requirementsDevelop evidence-based design solutions to support mental health treatment, recovery and reintegrationDesign adult crisis, sobering, substance use and residential treatment centersEnsure designs promote client and staff safety while maintaining a therapeutic environmentApply sustainable design practices and WELL building standards to behavioral health spacesCollaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate specialized security and safety featuresIntegrate trauma informed design strategiesDesign spaces that balance clinical requirements with trauma-informed care principlesConduct facility assessments and develop programming recommendationsCreate detailed space planning documentation and design guidelinesLead stakeholder engagement sessions and facilitate design workshopsProvide technical expertise on behavioral health design standards and best practicesSupport cost estimation and phasing strategies for behavioral health implementationsDevelop post-occupancy evaluation criteria for behavioral health spacesMentor team members on behavioral health design principlesContribute to research initiatives and thought leadership in justice behavioral health designRequired Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in architecture, interior design, or related field5+ years of experience in behavioral health facility planning or related healthcare designStrong understanding of mental health treatment modalities and substance use programsKnowledgeable of Behavioral Health funding initiatives at state and local levelsKnowledge of trauma-informed design principles and evidence-based practiceUnderstanding of clinical workflows and operational requirementsUnderstanding of telehealth and technology supported treatment systemsKnowledge of behavioral healthcare design standards and building regulationsExperience with public sector projects and stakeholder engagementStrong analytical and problem-solving capabilitiesExcellent written, verbal, and graphic communication skillsPreferred Qualifications:Master's degree in psychology, behavioral science, architecture, planning, or related fieldProfessional certification in healthcare planning or behavioral healthExperience in behavioral health facility planning,AICP or other relevant certificationProficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, MS Office Suite, and Adobe Creative SuiteBackground in therapeutic environment design or clinical operationsFamiliarity with Behavioral Health system operations and proceduresExperience with secure facility design and planningKnowledge of correctional healthcare standards and guidelinesUnderstanding of behavioral health economics and facility operationsResearch experience in behavioral health environmentsPublication history in relevant professional journalsExperience with grant writing and funding applicationsCrisis prevention intervention (CPI) certificationMental Health First Aid certificationProfessional affiliation with behavioral health organizationsDLR 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.