Workplace Design & Strategy Director

About this role

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm.  We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration.  Together we can achieve great things.

 Success at SOM Means • Ideas:  We believe in a meritocracy of ideas.  We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.  

• Knowledge:  We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning.  We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.

• Product:  We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.

• Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work.  Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.

• Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration.  A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.

• Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Position Overview  

The Workplace Design & Strategy Director is a dynamic client-facing design and subject matter expert who implements design strategy to win and lead all phases of workplace projects. This professional demonstrates a clear understanding of workplace strategy, processes and data. They develop and implement strategic design initiatives that summarize and align with client goals and objectives; develop and confirm client program; and translate these into spatial opportunities.  The Workplace Design & Strategy Director recruits, supervises and mentors a team including  Design Strategists and Workplace Designers to pursue, win, and execute workplace design projects.

This leader builds and maintains strong client relationships and plays an active role in business development and pursuits. Together with their team, the Workplace Design & Strategy Director works on multiple projects and leads the workplace strategy team. They maintain an outward-facing profile as a workplace design thought leader and actively lead internal initiatives to grow and facilitate the design strategy practice within SOM. 

Business Development, Marketing and Communication

The Workplace Design & Strategy Director will collaborate and guide members of the interiors practice team in the development, production, promotion, and marketing of SOM’s Workplace Design / Strategy services and contribute to implementing the strategic growth model of the practice. Together with their team and other Leaders, they will guide business development strategy including market research, creating new business development opportunities, participating in public speaking engagements and conferences,  and actively pursue leads. The  Workplace Design & Strategy Director  will be a steward of SOM and serve as a role model of expertise and communication in all areas of responsibility.

Position Responsibilities • Lead a multi-disciplinary team working closely with companies across a wide range of data-driven projects from imagining the future of work to optimizing global real estate portfolios. 

• Leads a team to analyze and interpret client needs and aspirations into spatial scenarios. Leads the creation of early-phase project delivery and content creation utilizing: quantitative data, project benchmarking, digital tools and software.

• Ability to collaborate with Design Leadership to plan, organize, direct, mentor, and coordinate work efforts for the technical, design and/or management aspects of a project team, through all phases of a project, with minimal oversight from Principal and/or Partner.

• Provides technical/design/management leadership and support for the development of the design concept from pursuit through Schematic Design in collaboration with a Principal or Partner.

• Collaborative and professional work ethic; leads by example motivating project teams in an inclusive and positive approach.

• Demonstrates knowledge of Interiors and Architecture Industry Best Practices including programming, planning, and design.

• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of Interior Architecture and Architectural design and leading teams through workplace planning and design concept development (hospitality and/or residential as applicable), design and detailing standards, building materials, building systems, current and applicable building and fire codes, FF&E, construction techniques and current market cost(s) costing trends.

• Participates in the planning, scheduling, and organization of project plans for design, technical, and/or project management tools/documents (as applicable) relative to project parameters and in collaboration with senior project team leaders.

• Demonstrates leadership in terms of implementing SOM standard procedures and protocols for the technical, design and/or management aspects of a project to assure continuity, coordination and consistency of project documentation across the firm in support of overall office wide goals.

• Supports appropriate project documents reviews (design phase documents, technical documents and/or project management tools/documents) and quality control of associated documents in accordance with SOM’s quality control program.

• Leads and delivers creative and innovative solutions to complex problems and guides the team in the development of appropriate research and documentation to support these solutions.

• Participates in marketing and business development efforts, including identifying opportunities to grow the p

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