Healthcare Planner

Our client is seeking an experienced, Certified Healthcare Planner to join their team in Royal Oak, MI as a contributor in their healthcare and institutional practice division. This role will lead the planning process for healthcare projects from early programming through building construction occupancy, serve as the primary healthcare design liaison for the firm’s clients, and ensure phasing and design is delivered in compliance within building codes and healthcare design standards. The ideal candidate is someone who has navigated the complexity of occupied‑facility renovation, understands the language of clinical operations, and can translate the needs of medical staff and administrators. Working directly with the Project Architects and firm leadership, this role will be a visible, trusted voice in how this architecture and planning firm positions itself in the healthcare market going forward. Key Responsibilities Lead facility programming, operational workflow analysis, and space planning for healthcare clients including hospitals, outpatient facilities, behavioral health environments, and specialty clinical settings Assist in creating, reviewing, and coordinating the architectural plans, elevations, and equipment plans Conduct pre‑design assessments through site visits, stakeholder interviews, functional adjacency analysis, and benchmarking against FGI Guidelines and industry standards Develop and validate healthcare facility project scope, and functional programs in collaboration with client leadership and medical staff end‑users Apply FGI Guidelines, NFPA life safety codes, building codes, and applicable state and federal healthcare regulations and standards throughout the planning and project process Project Delivery Serve as the planning programming coordinator across design phases, ensuring programming intent is carried through schematic design, design development, and construction documents Assist the client team with ICRA/ILSM plans and provide infection control risk guidance for occupied‑facility renovation and phased construction projects Coordinate with the architect of record, MEP, structural consultants, specialty healthcare vendors, and subconsultants to align planning decisions with technological components Participate in construction administration activities as needed, including site observations, RFI reviews, medical equipment, and systems healthcare commissioning support Client & Stakeholder Engagement Serve as the primary point of contact for end‑users, department directors, and operational leadership during programming and planning phases Translate complex healthcare workflows into clear architectural programs Facilitate working sessions, user group meetings, and design workshops with diverse medical and administrative stakeholders Build and maintain strong relationships with health system contacts, nursing, executive leadership, and facilities management teams Business Development Support Participate in client presentations, RFP and RFQ responses, and prepare and attend interviews for healthcare projects Contribute to the firm’s positioning in the healthcare market by developing project narratives, case studies, and differentiator content Support the identification of healthcare market opportunities and help shape the firm’s growth strategy in the healthcare sector Contribute to internal knowledge development, including planning templates, healthcare standards documentation, and best practice guides Qualifications & Requirements Required Must have the EDAC (Evidence-Based Design Accreditation & Certification) credential from the Center for Health Design (or be in active pursuit of it) Must have the ICRA Certification (or equivalent demonstrated experience with infection and control risk planning in occupied healthcare facilities) 5+ years of experience within healthcare architecture or healthcare project planning roles, or 5+ years of experience within a clinical/operational role with direct and substantive exposure to facility design Genuine fluency in recent FGI Guidelines and knowledge of forthcoming revisions and additions Strong written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable presenting to C‑Suite Administrators, Medical Leadership, and Design Review Boards Strong fluency in AutoCAD and Revit is required Familiarity with space planning tools and medical presentation projects is required Preferred Experience with lean process design, patient flow optimization, or healthcare transformation work Familiarity with Michigan LARA and BFS approval processes for healthcare design and construction projects Background working with Michigan-based or Midwest Health Systems Experience supporting or leading healthcare BD pursuits, including SF330 submissions Membership in the ACHA (American College of Healthcare Architects) or in active pursuit of it #J-18808-Ljbffr