Medical Planner & Healthcare Architect

At Gensler, we design for people. We leverage our global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. Fueled by passion and entrepreneurial spirit, our people bring new ideas to solve challenging problems. Our depth of expertise spans disciplines, and we strive to make the everyday places people occupy more inspiring, more resilient, and more impactful.

As a Gensler Medical Planner & Healthcare Architect you will lead a team of architects and designers to deliver unparalleled architectural projects. You will leverage your industry experience and healthcare expertise to guide projects from concept through construction, ensuring design excellence at every phase. In this role you will also support business development efforts by cultivating strong client relationships, contributing to proposals and pursuits, and identifying opportunities to expand existing engagements.

Your work ethic paired with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a commitment to collaboration and mentoring helps build client trust and loyalty while making Gensler an ideal place to grow your career.

• Serve as a senior design and planning leader, providing clear direction and decision-making across healthcare projects from early planning through construction and activation.
• Lead medical planning efforts, including test-fits, program development, clinical adjacencies, and workflow optimization, translating operational models into architectural and interior solutions.
• Guide the development of program and planning documents grounded in regulatory requirements, healthcare codes, industry standards, and emerging best practices.
• Lead client, user group, and stakeholder meetings, synthesizing diverse input into clear, actionable design direction.
• Direct coordination among designers, project architects, engineers, and specialty consultants to ensure integrated, buildable, and high-quality solutions.
• Oversee site visits and construction-phase services, ensuring RFIs, submittals, substitutions, and field decisions align with design intent and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate closely with interior designers to translate conceptual vision into resolved interior architecture, detailing, and material strategies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, authorities having jurisdiction, and hospital licensing standards, validating requirements throughout design and construction.
• Provide senior-level communication with clients, consultants, contractors, and permitting authorities, representing the firm with clarity and confidence.
• Lead and present in client meetings, design reviews, and project interviews.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering technical excellence, healthcare knowledge, and leadership capability.
• Contribute to studio and firmwide initiatives, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement of healthcare design and planning practices.

• Drive healthcare growth in the Chicago market by cultivating trusted client relationships with health systems, academic medical centers, and provider networks.
• Originate and shape new work by identifying early opportunities, positioning the firm strategically, and leading pursuits from initial client engagement through contract execution.
• Serve as a client advisor, translating clinical, operational, and strategic priorities into compelling planning and design solutions that align with organizational goals.
• Partner closely with local and regional leadership to define growth targets, account strategies, and market positioning for healthcare.
• Lead proposal and interview efforts, articulating a clear value proposition that differentiates design quality, planning rigor, and project outcomes.
• Expand existing client relationships by identifying follow-on opportunities, cross-discipline services, and long-term capital program support.
• Represent the firm externally through industry involvement, thought leadership, and visibility within Chicago‑area healthcare and real estate networks.
• Mentor and elevate teams in business development best practices, client engagement, and strategic thinking, building a sustainable pipeline beyond individual pursuits.
• Balance growth and delivery, ensuring pursuits are grounded in realistic scope, fee alignment, and the ability to deliver exceptional outcomes.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture
• 15+ years of project experience in an architectural practice
• Professional licensure is required
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship management skills
• Strong design and planning skills with large or complicated architectural projects
• Proficiency in Revit and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) is required. Enscape, AutoCAD, Sketchup, Rhino, and Microsoft Office are also beneficial.
• Working knowledge of building codes, standards, building construction, and building structures.
• LEED AP and Registered Architect (or in process) preferred.
• Experience planning HCAI facilities.
• Advanced knowledge of current healthcare…