Design Practice Lead - Health & Life Sciences / Consumer & Manufacturing (US)
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, Industrial, Transport and Energy sectors.
Our capabilities span human insights, industrial design, user experience, human factors, software, electronics, mechanical engineering, research and scientific testing, enabling us to take ideas from concept to scalable reality. We are recognized for tackling complex challenges where technical depth, commercial impact and real-world delivery matter most.
Based in Boston, MA, the US Design Practice Lead 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.
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
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.