Studio Director

In order to make an application, simply read through the following job description and make sure to attach relevant documents.

Your Role

Gensler is organized around a highly collaborative studio leadership model, and at its core are values, culture, and working style.

As a Gensler Studio Director, you are a people and project leader, strategy creator, design thinker, client advocate, and relationship steward.

You are a practice builder, who leverages a diverse portfolio of projects and business acumen to capture super-exciting clients and projects.

This role is for a leader who loves to push new ideas, is passionate about design, and gets excited about managing diverse projects and extremely talented creatives.

You will join a highly creative, collaborative team dedicated to innovative problem-solving and design excellence. We are a group of entrepreneurial boutique-minded professionals with a passion for design, human experience, strategy, and work-life integration.

This is an excellent opportunity for a practice builder with a diverse portfolio of work to be part of a client-interfacing team and enjoy utilizing business development skills and acumen to capture clients and projects!

What You Will Do

Management

• Responsible for the overall management of your responsible studio.
• Represent the interests, concerns, and problems of the studio and ensure issues are addressed and resolved expeditiously.
• Monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the studio relating to all staff, business, and financial operations.

Staff Development

• Work closely with your staff with regards to hiring, 90-day performance evaluations, developmental reviews, employee work performance, learning, professional development, bonus review, appointment input and evaluation.
• Communicate employee issues and requests to the Human Resources teams upon becoming aware of the issue and to see the issue through to resolution.

Leadership

• Practice leadership skills by motivating employees to enable them to reach their individual potential.
• Maintain a positive team environment by creating programs to boost morale.
• Provide staff members with an open door policy to allow individuals to feel free to communicate with you and other members of the management team.
• Build staff capabilities through programs that improve individual technical / design skills and develop improved management and communication.
• Lead Professional Development Planning program annually and ensure employee goals are monitored throughout the year.
• Provide a creative, innovative and nurturing environment through your studio by developing an effective coaching / mentoring program.
• Demonstrate ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.

Projects

In your role as Studio Director, you will be responsible for maintaining positive client relationships with all projects assigned to your studio.

You will need to attend key client meetings and provide leadership, inspiration and motivation to the design team to ensure the highest quality design documentation is produced and client satisfaction is achieved.

• Manage projects assigned to your studio by focusing on the project process, service / delivery, work environment and project documentation.
• Responsible for promoting a collaborative culture amongst all design synergies on projects within your studio.
• Client development - build clients' trust and loyalty in Gensler and develop additional business.

Business Development / Marketing

• Market and develop new business on a consistent basis. Place a strong emphasis on marketing for Gensler in an effort to win new projects and increase Gensler’s visibility.
• Ensure prompt and timely response to all proposal requests.
• Work closely with our Marketing department to ensure business development reporting, lead generation, fee development, project marketing and proposal writing.
• Proactively position and network Gensler.

Design Management

In your role as Studio Director / Senior Design Manager, you will also play a leadership role on many of the projects in the studio.

You will lead client relationships, plan and facilitate effective meetings, review conceptual development, and provide leadership, inspiration, and motivation to the design team to ensure the highest quality design documentation is produced and client satisfaction is achieved.

• Manage projects by focusing on the project process, service / delivery, work environment, and project documentation.
• Client development - build clients' trust and loyalty in Gensler and develop additional business.

Financial

• Monitor budgets and profitability targets for your studio.
• Oversee billing and fee management operations in the studio and ensure all financial activities are consistent with Gensler policies and procedures.
• Accountable for discretionary expense budget management, accounts receivable accountability, expense report approvals, held time monitoring, productivity projections, and review.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field and 15+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience with managing an architectural firm, regional office, and / or practice group.
• Project directing, project management, and team leadership experience.
• Visibility in the field, including industry memberships, publications, and conference speaking experience.
• High degree of flexibility, and ability to work on multiple projects at once.
• Deep professional roots, client network, and knowledge of the market in the San Jose market area.
• A history of successfully managing and mentoring a diverse staff.
• Excellent customer / client relationship management skills.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and graphic communication skills.
• Outstanding analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills and be an enthusiastic team player.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task.

TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE SUBMIT CURRENT PORTFOLIO / WORK SAMPLES IN PDF FORMAT.

The base salary will be estimated between $135,000 - $175,000 plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience.

Life At Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to Well-being Week, our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off.

We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees.

In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

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