Job Details
We are seekinga Design Leader to join our Retail Practice. As a Design Leader, your focus will be on Retail Financial Banking. You will strengthen the breadth and profitability of the regional and global interior design discipline while continually and consistently providing compelling and progressive design solutions for our clients. This role will drive the design conversation with the regional team(s) through the creation and delivery of progressive and thorough RFP responses, sound management structure/delivery the project, departmental, or office level. The Design Leader will act as a mentor and leader for all interior design teammates across the specific, office, region or network of offices. This position will offer leadership, clear guidance and feedback on a regular basis to ensure quality results.
The position will maintain involvement and ensures quality control in all phases of select interior architectural projects and their management/outcome. The Design Leader role is one that bridges between the creative teams and project management and is the ultimate liaison to the Leadership Team. At their home office, they may serve as a primary contact with clients, consultants and public agencies. The Design Leader maintains a strong presence local and/or regionally and may be a is a leader in professional organizations on a regional or national level.
The Design Leader works directly with marketing and management to develop major business initiatives, white papers, media strategies, and or other special initiatives to support the mission and founding principles of the NELSON Global Organization.Further, this position shall maintain strong national business and industry contacts in the United States and act as a liaison to national design publication houses.
Attributes to support the NELSON Culture: Go All-In, Keep It Real, Embrace Growth, Think Boldly and Be You:
- Go All-In - Take responsibility for your actions, do what you say and always lead by example
- Keep It Real - Communicate with empathy, transparency and respect to support each other in the pursuit of great work
- Embrace Growth - Seek to learn, grow and experiment to fuel our future
- Think Boldly - Exude a passion for problem solving, creativity and curiosity in everything you do
- Be You - Express your unique self and actively engage in our fun, diverse community of real people
Required Knowledge and Skills:- Possess code knowledge and ensure team has incorporated permitting requirements into the deliverables
- Basic knowledge of design, trends, construction methodology, materials application and manufacturer-supplier appropriateness
- Basic knowledge of sustainability, integrated design and LEED, Well, EnergyStar guidelines
- 15 years minimum experience in the industry with a similar management and development role
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent Presentation Skills
- Proven record of high Interview-to-Win rate
- Excellent teamwork skills
- Excellent organizational skills with a strong attention to detail
- Proficiency with Sustainable Design/LEED and WELL standards
- Broad project experience including corporate commercial, tenant, master planning, corporate headquarters, legal, S&T, TAMI
- Proficiency in Deltek Vision
- Proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook
- Knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit a plus
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:Leadership:
- Lead by example on an ongoing basis.
- Input into client project proposals fee estimates for formal and informal RFP's. The Design Leader will strongly influence and own the final deliverable including follow-up and award.
- Bring learning and new design initiatives to the local, regional and global organization.
- Ability to organize and prioritize tasks, for the design team, to complete within the identified time frame.
- Manage expectations of project leaders, Project Managers, and Teammates in order to cast a vision for success of the studio.
- Foster a positive studio environment and maintain harmony. Resolve conflict and have difficult conversations with teammates, peers, upper management and/or clients when necessary.
- Provide opportunities to utilize individual's strengths for their professional development as well as team performance.
- Conduct employee performance evaluations within studio on an annual basis and provide feedback to the Market Leader or Studio Leader. Recommend salary increases for teammates with Market Leader or Studio Leader.
- Set goals with project leaders and create opportunities to achieve these goals.
- Deliver feedback to inspire continuous learning.
- Develop project leaders and Project Managers in core responsibilities for their role.
- Mentor all teammates in the execution of their responsibilities.
- Provide studio performance feedback to local office leadership and Practice Leaders.
Embrace specific steps to create, develop and promote a diverse workforce and to promote an inclusive environment
Resource Management:
- Meet weekly with the project leaders and Project Managers to ensure all work is progressing as scheduled.
- Provide direction to project leaders and Project Managers to address and resolve any project related issues or teammate concerns.
- Assist project leaders and Project Managers in rebalancing workload between teams if necessary.
- Evaluate teams' skills, provide and coordinate staffing recommendations to local office leadership or Practice Area Leader.
- Participate in the staffing process; assist with seeking new talent and conduct interview with Market Leader or Studio Leader.
- Review resumes and interview incoming design professional candidates from a design excellence perspective.
- Arrange and coordinate mentorship and training responsibilities in alignment with local and national effort.
- Ensure internal reporting is completed in Deltek Vision on time. (i.e. time sheet approvals, project planning and pipeline projections as applicable).
- Manage studio utilization to meet targets and ensure a balanced workload.
- Be knowledgeable about projects within the teams.
- Hold teammates accountable and provide resources or mentorship when appropriate.
- Analyze teammate's skillsets and set milestones for future professional development.
Technical:
- Ensure project leaders and Project Managers within the studios are following NELSON protocol for QA/QC; Provide QA/QC support as necessary.
- Guide project leaders and Project Managers to utilize all NELSON resources within their office, within the team/account, and across the network to deliver quality technical and/or creative design.
- Support the initiatives of the local/regional Technical Leader; share experiences within the studio to inform best practices that will benefit the firm.
Project Delivery:
- Ability to prioritize and effectively meet deadlines, delegate tasks and provide high quality service to clients.
- Improving internal systems to raise the level of design while coordinating with local office leadership to assess staff and strength of teams.
- Responsible for sustaining and raising the continuous design aesthetic and quality control of design solutions for our clients.
- Evaluate the progress on projects and vetting project design goals.
- Determine standards for project inception, project development, visioning, and design development.
- If needed, collaborate with Market Leader or Studio Leaders and other interior design leads in the various offices.
- Work closely with other design vertical leadership to best position NELSON as a Global Design Leader.
- Prepare project budgets and mentor/support teammates to follow them; teach teammates to prepare them on their own.
- Prepare proposals, define scope and estimate fees that are easy to understand and ensure profitability.
Financial Management:
- Review financial reports and utilize the data for evaluating positive performance and identifying areas for improvement.
- Provide budget/proposal support including additional services and reallocations to manage project profitability.
- Coordinate with the Project Manager and the design team to ensure solutions are in alignment with client budget and schedule expectations.
- Provide direction as needed including actions to correct project performance.
- Coordinate with peer Design Leaders regarding client or practice specific revenue trends.
Business Development:
- Marketing coordination and representation of the NELSON deliverables. A direct and definitive involvement in all outbound or external deliverables.
- Coordinate all photography within the office or region. Assess the need for escalation of photography to marketing and define level of effort and need based on design and opportunity.
- Be a prominent external face of NELSON within their market or region. Regularly attend all design related activity within the market and establish a qualified network.
- Responsible, in conjunction with the local market or national team, for the act of "selling" NELSON and producing a positive "win" ratio based on opportunity.
- Continually monitor NELSON's standing as an Interior Design Giant focused on continual growth on the regional/global stage.
- Maintain the necessary social media presence for the local market, region and nationally to continue toelevate the NELSON brand.
- Respond to RFPs and support proposal efforts proposals in coordination with Market Leader, Regional Leadership and/or Practice Leaders as requested.
- Identify new opportunities and share information with Market Leader, peer Studio Leaders, and/or Practice Leaders.
- Make recommendations to the Market Leader or Studio Leaders regarding quantity, complexity, and diversity of future projects they feel are necessary for consideration.
- Coordinate marketing efforts for new business with Corporate marketing, local office leadership, or Practice Leader.
- Cultivate new and nurture existing relationships with brokers, procurement groups, end users, etc.
- Negotiate contracts with Clients, Contractors, Vendors, etc.
Certificates, Licenses or Registrations Required:Education / Experience:- Bachelor's degree in Interior Design or Architecture from an accredited University.
- 25+ years' experience; or equivalent in appropriate education and experience working in the field of Architecture.
- Proven experience managing and leading people.
Computer Skills:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, and Outlook)
- Proficiency in Deltek Vision
- Basic knowledge of AutoCAD/Architectural Desktop, and Revit preferred.
National salary range (regional cost of living factors are considered into the hiring process):
$70,000 - $100,000, plus bonuses and benefits; contingent on relevant experience.
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