Director of Physical Design

The Director of Physical Design ensures that LP upholds the highest caliber of storytelling and design processes.

The role includes oversight of all Physical Design team members, providing guidance on their approach to design, project workflows, research, presentation materials, and organizational processes, to ensure best practices are followed by all discipline members.

The Director of Physical Design works with Project Managers on project scopes and work plans as they pertain to Spatial/Physical Design and interdependencies with other discipline workflows and milestones.

The Physical Design Discipline Director collaborates with the other Discipline Directors on best practices studio-wide and brings concerns and solutions to upper leadership.

As Design Director the Director of Physical Design demonstrates conceptual and technical expertise as well as intuition and talent for directing and managing the design process. They work on multiple projects, advising on the design process and technical feasibility. They are mentors to the designers through all phases of projects and work cross-disciplinarily to make ideas real. The Physical Design Director will lead the design from conception to delivery of multiple projects in collaboration with Creative Directors and Project Managers. The Physical Design Director will also foster the growth of the physical design discipline.

• Must be able to work on-site in our NYC Studio (Hybrid)
• Must reside in the NY/Tristate Area
• In order to be considered for this role please provide a link to your Portfolio or Website

Requirements

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Mentor and train the Physical Design team on best practices
• Establish, iterate, and maintain adherence to the team's application of processes, tools, and templates
• Manage the team's growth and development via annual reviews, weekly one-on-ones, professional road mapping, job and compensation adjustments, conflict resolution, and professional development opportunities
• Troubleshoot project challenges with team members with an eye toward developing their creative problem-solving skills and self-sufficiency. They escalate concerns as needed and work collaboratively with project leadership to resolve these concerns.
• Handle all department admin requirements related to staffing, resourcing, PTO approvals, and all/any other team admin support
• Work with COO/discipline directors/PMs for resourcing and staffing needs
• Conduct interviews and assess/manage Physical Design hiring requirements, in coordination with the COO, HR, and others as needed
• Maintain a roster of temp staff for times freelance resourcing needs

Design Director Responsibilities:

• Participates and collaborates in design workshops, internal and/or with client stakeholders
• Ideation sketches (hand and computerized)

• Assists Project Managers with defining project schedules and scopes of work (client/consultant)
• Oversees and coordinates design information in standard CAD packages for client and consultant use (Architectural, MEP, AV, Lighting, Acoustics)
• Coordinates consultants package
• Assembles written specifications
• Provides ROM implementation budget information
• Contract Administration - Reviews RFI's, shop drawings & material submittals, conduct on-site observations and other documentation
• Present LP's capabilities to Industry Peers

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Works hands-on and independently during all phases of the projects
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when appropriate

Experience:

• Must have a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Exhibit Design, or a similar degree
• 10+ years of professional design experience as a Designer, Interior Designer, Exhibit Designer, or related position.
• Has proven leadership experience in documentation, oversight, and administration

Additional Requirements:

• Travel may be required
• Must be able to work on-site in our NYC Studio
• Must reside in the NY/Tristate Area

Salary:

130K to 160K

Benefits

Local Projects offers to its Full-Time staff Health/Dental/Vision, FSA, 401k, access to Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance and Life Insurance as well as a generous PTO package.

Local Projects is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our collaboration with each other and the experiences we create together greatly benefit from a range of perspectives, which can only come from diversity of all types, across all disciplines, at all levels of the studio. Achieving true diversity and inclusion is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing for our business. So we strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, and gender nonconforming candidates to apply.

Local Projects is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity, and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.