DESIGN DIRECTOR

Description

The Design Director is a creative lead who can wield hospitality design strategy while exhibiting the ability to translate design ideas into creative business-building solutions for our clients. The director shall be as comfortable consulting with business leaders as with design counterparts.

The Design Director shall have the ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team to develop immersive environments for a diverse range of domestic and international clients. This seasoned leader will merge strategy, interior design, furniture and lighting design, architecture and graphic design to develop world-class hospitality environments while challenging, mentoring and inspiring a diverse team of designers.

The director shall demonstrate abilities in persuasive presentation skills, environmental design strategy, conceptual ideation, rendering and presentation skills, technical proficiency.

The design director must understand the range of work of the firm and design philosophy and approach leading the studio in project design. They must be able to add some innovative and fresh design experience to the studio mix, add tone and deep artistic design guidance to the team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC

• Work with senior management and marketing to fit interior design strategy to organizational vision.
• Manage and oversee upgrades and changes in design strategy.
• Continue to strengthen the breadth, creativity and work of the interiors practice, supporting interior design leads through the provision of sound creative oversight at both the project and studio wide levels.
• Develop strong business relationships with clients and outside partners.
• Provide design direction, and work with the principals to create designs that meet AvroKO standards.
• Act as a mentor of the interiors department, offering leadership, clear guidance and feedback on a regular basis to ensure high design quality.
• Works directly with marketing and management to develop major business initiatives.
• Writing proposals and creating fee estimates

INDUSTRY

• Maintains a strong presence in professional organizations.
• Marketing coordination and representation of the AvroKO Design

GENERAL DESIGN PRACTICE

• Create and train the organization on interior design standards and policies.
• Improving internal systems while coordinating with the Operations Director, Technical Director and Interiors Manager.
• Work closely with the Director of Operations, Controller and Chief Creative Director in staffing projects, identifying new employee needs, and keeping projects within staffing budgets.
• Arranges mentorship and training.

 PROJECT SPECIFIC

• Determines standards for project design methodology.
• Maintains involvement and ensures quality control in all phases of interior architectural projects and their design. Evaluates the progress on projects and vetting project design goals.
• Quality control of designs and presentations prepared by staff.
• May serve as a primary contact with clients, consultants and public agencies.
• Liaison between the Principals and the rest of the Designers in the office on all design projects that you oversee.
• Making important decisions regarding project design based on interior design knowledge and requirements.
• Participate in the review of submissions and recommend changes before completion.
• Actively participate in budgeting and scheduling design tasks

Qualifications

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

Strong interpersonal skills to convey design ideas to client and vendors.

Supportive team leadership and engendering a positive, enthusiastic and constructive process.

Able to bring out the best in the design team, and allow them to design towards clear goals.

Train staff in presentation techniques and detail studies including 3D sketch and modeling techniques.

Work closely with Director of Operations and Project Managers to monitor contract performance, from initial statement-of-work through completion.

Ability to lead internal design review and provide constructive feedback to teams

Organized individuals that pay close attention to detail and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Have an advanced understanding and knowledge of design and construction techniques as it relates to interior design.

  REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

• Over 14 years of hospitality design experience with significant experience in restaurants and hotels.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of experience in a senior management / leadership role.
• Demonstrated strategic approach to design.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent teamwork skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Experience with common industry software applications such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite. Further presentation and documentation applications such as, 3D modeling applications, BIM applications, 2D drafting applications and specification writing software a plus.
• Experience building, nurturing and. fostering client relationships.
• Persuasive presentation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with design directors and creative managing directors across the firm
• Strong writing skills (narratives, strategy, meeting minutes, proposals, etc.)
• Ability to read and interface with the firm's primary accounting reports.
• Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design - Master’s degree a plus.

When applying please ensure you submit a resume and portfolio (PDF format required).