Design Director (Retail)

Gensler’s Charlotte office is seeking a Design Director to join one of the Lifestyle studios.  The Design Director is instrumental in ensuring design excellence and the creation of hallmark projects to broaden and enhance our portfolio.

Design Directors play a major leadership role by orchestrating the work of project teams focused on design, development and delivery of outstanding solutions for the many dimensions of client work.  They are involved with projects from the initial business development and marketing stages through the completion of construction and installation.  During the life of a project, the Design Director will work directly with the client, team members, and a wide range of consultants and collaborators. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead design team through all phases of retail interior projects including guiding, advising, and mentoring other designers on projects, developing design direction and leading design critiques/forums

• Collaborate on retail interiors projects, including programming client needs, conceptual and schematic design, design development, and management of budgets and schedules

• Resolve complex design issues with innovation and smart solutions

• Inspire creativity among team members

• Participate in the professional development of staff

• Act as primary design interface with clients

• Assist in managing client expectations, team communication and consultant coordination

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree or foreign equivalent in Interior Design or Architecture

• 12+ years of experience in retail design

• A mix of strategic and creative bent, with ability to create great form while embracing sound business strategy

• Ability to work in a team environment, as a collaborator and director

• Strong portfolio in retail or hospitality design

• Ability to provide critical design review to design teams, communicating design ideas and direction quickly

• Excellent presentation abilities

• Passionate about design in all areas, and able to be the design inspiration for multiple highly-creative interdisciplinary project teams

• 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

For consideration, please submit resume and relevant work samples. Submittals must include work samples for full consideration.

Gensler is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participant in the U.S. Federal E-Verify program. Women, minorities, disabled and veterans are encouraged to apply.