Design Practice Lead - Health & Life Sciences / Consumer & Manufacturing (US)

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. 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 10+ 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 PA’s Design, Engineering and Science (DES) function helps our clients conceive, build and scale complex physical and digitally connected products. We combine the application of deep science, world-class engineering and people-centered design to address major shifts in markets, from early-stage innovation through to regulated, real-world deployment at scale. Our globally integrated team of 400+ specialists across the US, UK and Ireland works at the intersection of innovation strategy, product development and applied R&D. We partner with organizations ranging from ambitious start-ups to established global leaders across Health & Life Sciences, Defense, Consumer