What are the responsibilities and job description for the Design Leader position at NELSON?
NELSON is currently seeking a Design Leader to strengthen the breadth and profitability of the Mixed Use design discipline while continually and consistently providing compelling and progressive design solutions for our clients. We’re are seeking a leader with strong talent to build, develop, and drive the execution of our design projects.
This role will drive the design conversation through the creation and delivery of progressive and thorough RFP responses and sound management structure. 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 Design Leader maintains 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: Guiding Principles
- Culture of Transformation: Act as a community to accelerate firm impact
- Dedicated to Progression: A 360 approach to innovation and design
- Enable Engagement: Storytelling that educates and inspires
- Design with Purpose: Sustainable form and function
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Critical features of this job are described under the headings below. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.
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 Presentation Skills
- Proven record of high Interview-to-Win rate
- Excellent organizational skills with a strong attention to detail
- Proficiency with Sustainable Design/LEED and WELL standards
- Broad Mixed Use project experience
- Proficiency in Deltek Vision
- Proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook
- Knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit
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
- 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 to elevate 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:
- NCIDQ Certified
Education / Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design or Architecture from an accredited University
- 15 years’ experience; or equivalent in appropriate education and experience working in the field of Architecture
- Proven experience managing and leading design
Billable Expectations:
- Billable percentage expected to be 75% or greater on an on-going basis
Computer Skills:
- Proficiency in Deltek Vision and Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, and Outlook)
- Basic knowledge of AutoCAD/Architectural Desktop, and Revit
National salary range: $100,000 – $190,000 (15 years experience). Additional compensation includes bonuses and benefits (compensation factors are based upon years of relevant experience, qualifications/licensure, education, and location.) Bonuses can include but are not limited to: Long Term Incentive Plan, Short Term Incentive Plan, Profit Sharing
Benefits of NELSON: (additional benefit details can be found at: nelsonworldwide.com/careers)
- 401(K) plan with company match
- Full health benefits including medical, dental, and vision
- Wellness program with rewards for healthy activities
- Pet Insurance
- Opportunities for career advancement
- Paid time off and holiday pay
- Paid parental leave
- Flexible working schedules and work from home options based on client’s needs
- Professional Development including discretionary support and reimbursement for registrations, certifications, and membership to a professional organization
NELSON and its related affiliates are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender, national origin, status as a protected veteran, disability or any other classification protected by law.
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Salary : $100,000 - $190,000
