Design Practice Lead

The Opportunity

Leads the Design capability in the US, driving the successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary work, developing high-performing teams and ensuring the effective deployment of design capability in support of client outcomes and business growth.

Operating within the broader DES leadership model, this role translates global Design capability strategy into regional execution.

The Role Is Accountable For The effective deployment of design capability across client work and strategic opportunities

The performance of delivery teams, ensuring work is high quality, commercially impactful and aligned to client needs

The development and growth of the US Design practice and its people

The contribution of the practice to business growth, including supporting business development and proposition development

The application of design within complex and regulated product development environments

Building PA’s position as a leading design partner within the Health & Life Sciences and Consumer sector and beyond

Ensuring alignment with Health & Life Sciences growth priorities and opportunities across MedTech focus areas including diagnostics, drug delivery, surgical & interventional technologies, digital health, and other regulated healthcare applications.

As the senior design leader in the US, the Practice Lead bridges global capability, delivery, client engagement and market development across a complex multidisciplinary environment.

What We\'re Looking For We are looking for a senior design leader who combines deep design expertise with strong experience in development of regulated MedTech physical and digital solutions.

You will bring experience leading multidisciplinary product development programs, from early opportunity identification and concept development through to implementation and commercialization. You will understand how design contributes to successful outcomes within technical, engineering-led, and regulated environments.

You will be comfortable working alongside engineers, scientists, quality specialists and program leaders, ensuring design plays a meaningful role in solving complex client challenges and creating differentiated products and services.

You will bring strong commercial awareness, with experience shaping opportunities, supporting business development and converting pipeline into high-value work

You will have a proven track record of building high-performing teams, developing talent and strengthening capability while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence.

Above all, you are motivated by delivering meaningful outcomes for clients and advocating human-centered design as a source of competitive advantage within complex product development environments.

Core Duties Lead the US Design Practice

Own the performance, development and day-to-day operation of the Design capability in the US, ensuring alignment with global priorities while building capability to support growth across the Health & Life Sciences GTM and other sectors which Design supports.

Deliver Complex Multidisciplinary Programs

Lead and oversee the delivery of complex programs from early ideation through implementation, ensuring high-quality outcomes, effective collaboration and successful client delivery across both innovative and regulated product development environments.

Build and Maintain Senior Client Relationships

Act as a trusted advisor to clients, helping shape problems, guide solutions and strengthen long-term relationships.

Drive Business Development and Growth

Identify opportunities, shape propositions and bring market insight and design perspectives to support the conversion of pipeline into strategic, high-value engagements.

Drive Best Practice

Own the consistent application of design methods, tools and standards across delivery. Promote excellence in design practice while ensuring alignment with Quality Management Systems and regulated development frameworks where appropriate.

Develop High-Performing Teams and Capability

Build, lead and develop a strong design team, including coaching senior talent, strengthening capability, supporting career development and leading effective workforce planning and deployment.

Champion Design in Technical and Regulated Environments

Advocate for human-centered design within multidisciplinary product development teams, ensuring design contributes meaningfully to technical feasibility, user needs, commercial objectives and regulatory requirements.

Represent PA and the Design Capability

Serve as a visible ambassador for Design across internal and external communities, championing the value of design within PA, Jacobs and the wider DES ecosystem.

Qualifications About You

Senior design leader with strong client-facing and delivery experience

Proven track record leading complex multidisciplinary product development programmes

Significant experience within MedTech

Strong understanding of how design operates within multidisciplinary product development environments

Expertise in complex and regulated product development and medical device development processes

Experience working within Quality Management Systems, particularly ISO 13485

Knowledge of applicable regulatory frameworks and standards

Strong commercial awareness with a track record of contributing to growth and business development

Forward-looking perspective on design, healthcare innovation and emerging MedTech trends

Experienced in building, leading and developing high-performing teams

Passionate about advocating for human-centered design within technical and engineering-led environments

Credible with senior clients, stakeholders and leadership teams

Strong operator, able to balance delivery excellence, team performance and business growth

Structured, pragmatic and outcome-focused

Collaborative and effective within a broader leadership model

Essential Experience Bachelor\'s or Master\'s degree in Design, Design Research, or a related discipline

15+ years\' experience within product development, innovation consulting or outsourced product and technology development

Significant experience within the MedTech sector

Experience leading multidisciplinary teams spanning design, engineering and scientific disciplines

Proven success building and developing high-performing design teams and capability

Strong understanding of design\'s role within complex product development programs

Experience contributing to business development, opportunity shaping and commercial growth

Desirable Experience Experience across drug delivery, diagnostics, digital health, and/or surgical & interventional technologies

Experience providing sector-focused thought leadership

Knowledge of emerging healthcare technologies and future market trends

Cross-sector experience in consumer, industrial and/or wellness categories

Additional Information Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to lead and shape a market-leading design practice within one of PA\'s most important growth sectors.

You will combine design leadership, healthcare innovation and commercial impact, helping clients solve some of the most complex challenges in regulated product development while building exceptional teams and capability.

In doing so, you will play a key role in ensuring that design capability translates into outstanding client outcomes, meaningful innovation and sustained growth across PA\'s Health & Life Sciences business.

Location

Boston, MA USA

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