Your Role
Gensler is looking for an experienced Design Director for its Lifestyle Studio.
The Design Director will transform expectations.
This is a multifaceted role that focuses on the areas of design, strategic planning & support, with a primary focus of being accountable for Design Excellence in all aspects of a project.
You will oversee the implementation of best practices across the team and must drive a passionately curious culture of work that transforms expectations for our clients, our peers, and our communities.
At Gensler we create emotional connections through meaningful design solutions that positively impact and transform people's everyday experiences.
What You Will Do
- The creative efforts on client architecture projects, developing overall design concepts and design presentation strategies
- Act as the primary design interface with clients and consultants, representing Gensler at meetings and presentations
- Mentor and develop Gensler designers; provide creative direction to design teams
- Collaborate with team members and colleagues to promote an inter-disciplinary design approach and philosophy
- Participate in business development and marketing efforts
- Utilize your experience with all phases of design project deliverables from concept design through construction administration to realize a successful design concept
- Work independently or with minor oversight to perform assignments including programming client needs, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, space planning and construction documentation
- Participate in client and consultant meetings
- Effectively communicate design ideas by hand sketching and/or digital graphics
- Represents expertise in all project phases, takes calculated risks, leading teams into uncharted explorations - Holds the ultimate responsibility of overall design quality for all projects they are directing.
- Is the climate champion for the project, establishing an impactful design direction to ensure that climate goals can be met.
- Continually improve design culture within studios (resources, discourse, initiatives and recruiting).
Your Qualifications
- Bachelor's or master's degree in Architecture
- 15 years of experience, with at least 10 years of recent mixed used sector with responsibilities as described above
- Experience working with international markets and clients
- Completed several mixed used projects from concept to completion
- Proficient in Revit and other computer design programs (AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, SketchUp, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator)
- LEED accreditation, preferred
- High taste level, excellent color sense, and great passion for design
- Excellent graphic design, organizational, time management, and written and verbal communication skills
- Passionate, self-starting, intelligent, dedicated, efficient
- Enjoys both taking responsibility and team collaboration
- Experience directing and providing leadership for design teams from business development presentations through developing strategy and design concepts
- Strong leadership, organization, communication, and relationship management skills
- Ability to provide critical design review to design teams, communicating design ideas and direction quickly
- Demonstrated success building, nurturing, and fostering new client relationships
- Ability to work closely with design directors across the firm to promote an inter-disciplinary design approach and philosophy, and to facilitate its advancement across the firm
Life at Gensler
At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design.
From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to "Well-being Week," our offices reflect our people's diverse interests.
We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life.
Our comprehensive benefits include subsidized health and life insurance, profit sharing, annual bonus, LinkedIn learning, holiday observance, additional PTO days every 5 years and employee assistance programs.
As part of the firm's commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees.
In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes.
We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.
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