Design Director

As a key member of the studio's Management, Operations, and Design (MOD) leadership team, you will lead by example—elevating design quality, mentoring the next generation of talent, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, and representing Perkins&Will within the profession and community. This is an opportunity for a proven design leader who is passionate about both exceptional design and developing others to achieve their full potential. **What You'll Do:** **Lead Design Excellence** - Provide visionary design leadership and establish a clear creative direction for the studio. - Guide teams in developing innovative design concepts aligned with project goals and client expectations. - Oversee the quality of design processes, project delivery, and built outcomes. - Champion creative excellence and ensure all projects align with the firm’s Living Design Framework. - Conduct design reviews and quality-control reviews throughout project development. - Work with firmwide leadership to organize and execute peer workshops at appropriate project milestones. - Stay current on emerging industry trends, technologies, and design practices. **Build and Develop High-Performing Teams** - Lead, mentor, coach, and inspire multidisciplinary design teams. - Foster a collaborative and creative work environment. - Partner with Talent Managers and studio leadership to recruit, interview, hire, and develop design talent. - Support the growth of diverse talent and skillsets across the studio. - Mentor staff and help them achieve both personal and professional development goals. - Facilitate ongoing learning through design discussions, conferences, seminars, and educational opportunities. - Build long-term bench strength and cultivate future design leaders. **Serve as a Studio and Client Leader** - Partner with the Managing Director and Operations Director to establish strategic goals and ensure execution. - Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and project teams to develop innovative solutions that achieve functional, aesthetic, and financial objectives. - Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, decision-makers, consultants, and industry influencers. - Represent the firm’s commitment to design within public, professional, cultural, and academic communities. - Build relationships with professional organizations and academic institutions. **Contribute to Studio Growth** - Participate in staffing decisions and team composition. - Support project planning, scope development, work plans, and fee negotiations. - Participate in marketing activities, including go/no-go decisions and interview leadership. - Help strategize, pursue, and win work for the studio. - Partner in developing and maintaining the studio’s design vision. - Advance studio initiatives related to career development, talent advancement, and inclusion. **Required Qualifications:** - Professional degree in Architecture or related discipline. - Professional architectural license. - Minimum of 15 years of professional experience. - Knowledge of industry regulations, life-safety requirements, and building codes. - Knowledge of site analysis, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, contract documents, and construction administration. - Strong ideator and conceptual thinker - Strong design portfolio, ideally broad-based on a range of project types. - Strong project budgeting and contract negotiation skills. - Strong working relationships with clients and consultants. - Experience in hiring, directing, mentoring, and coordinating successful project teams - Working knowledge of Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Enscape, and VRay. - LEED GA and one Living Design accreditation upon hire or within six months of hire **** **Salary Range Information** We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, and competitive and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions…