National Behavioral & Mental Health Planning Leader
Location: Flexible, U.S. (with travel to key healthcare studio locations)
Sector: Healthcare | Behavioral Health | Mental Health Environments
Status: Confidential National Leadership Opportunity
About the Client (Confidential)
Our client is a global design and architecture firm known for combining research, design excellence, and deep sector expertise to create environments that elevate human experience and advance community well-being.
With one of the most comprehensive healthcare design practices in North America, this firm integrates planning, architecture, and interior design under one collaborative model — delivering evidence-based, human-centered environments that support healing, dignity, and connection.
As part of a national strategic initiative, the firm is expanding its Behavioral and Mental Health practice, building upon decades of experience designing healthcare and wellness environments that serve the mind and body alike.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a National Behavioral & Mental Health Planning Leader — a visionary healthcare planner who can drive the next evolution of mental health design across the firm’s national portfolio.
You’ll work alongside two senior leaders:
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A 25-year healthcare executive with deep behavioral health operations experience.
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A 25-year interior design leader recognized for advancing therapeutic and trauma-informed environments.
Together, this triad will form the national core of a practice positioned to transform how behavioral and mental health facilities are imagined, planned, and delivered.
This is an opportunity to lead, shape, and elevate a growing national initiative — leveraging the firm’s global resources, deep healthcare legacy, and multidisciplinary talent network.
Key Responsibilities
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Serve as the national thought leader for behavioral and mental health planning, advancing best practices across all project teams.
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Collaborate with the national healthcare leadership team to define strategy, standards, and project delivery excellence within the behavioral health market.
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Partner with clinical leaders, health systems, and institutional clients to translate complex care models into built environments that foster dignity, safety, and healing.
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Lead the planning and programming of inpatient, outpatient, and community-based mental health facilities, ensuring functionality, flexibility, and compassion in design.
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Mentor teams across studios, building capacity and consistency in behavioral health design thinking nationwide.
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Contribute to business development and thought leadership, representing the firm at conferences, industry events, and client engagements.
Ideal Background
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10–20+ years of experience in healthcare facility planning, with a specialized focus in behavioral and mental health.
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Deep understanding of clinical operations, patient/staff workflows, and regulatory frameworks specific to behavioral health.
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Proven ability to collaborate with architects, designers, and health system executives to shape holistic care environments.
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Thought leader or recognized voice in behavioral health design innovation, whether through published research, speaking, or advisory roles.
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Strong communicator and mentor who thrives in multidisciplinary, nationally distributed teams.
The Culture
This firm’s culture blends creativity, empathy, and rigor — where purpose-driven designers and planners collaborate across disciplines to improve the human condition.
Their behavioral and mental health design philosophy is rooted in evidence and compassion: that the built environment has the power to reduce stigma, enhance safety, and support recovery.
You’ll join a culture that celebrates research, invests in its people, and amplifies design as a force for good.
What Success Looks Like
Within 12 months, the Behavioral & Mental Health Planning Leader will have helped unify the national approach to behavioral health design, elevated client dialogue, and contributed to new project wins that define the next era of healthcare environments.
This is not a maintenance role — it’s a mission-driven opportunity to lead national impact in one of design’s most meaningful and transformative sectors.
