Design Leader II

As a Design Leader, you will report to the Senior Design Leader in your physical location [or Region when applicable]. Your primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:  

• Perform in a lead design role communicating and representing design goals to the client and the team for the life of the project, with particular emphasis on early phase development. Partner with our most strategic thinkers, co-leading visioning, and setting conceptual direction. Collaborate with teams throughout all phases of development to ensure design quality. Support Senior Design Leaders on significant strategic pursuits.  
• Create innovative design concepts that synthesize our clients’ culture, goals, and aspirations with the needs of people, community, society and the environment. Deliver solutions uniquely responsive to this expanded view of design impact. 
• Prepare and direct the preparation of client presentation materials to convey the design in a compelling and sophisticated manner. Lead design presentations, with an emphasis on storytelling and aiding client understanding of the design. Capture and communicate key client goals and metrics and how our design solutions add value to our clients’ success. Collaborate with marketing and communications team to build strong narratives of our work.  
• Work within our culture of being an integrated practice by collaborating with technical leaders, subject matter experts and others, creating holistic design solutions that fulfill the complex array of demands our projects require. 
• Integrate performance-based and sustainable design strategies into design solutions. Further our goals to decarbonize the built environment and meet the AIA 2030 Commitment. Contribute to the firm’s portfolio with externally recognized design work. Submit projects for publication and to awards programs. 
• Engage in activities that strengthen, differentiate, and promote our brand locally, regionally, and nationally. This includes cultivating your personal reputation as a creative leader in the profession. Presentation at and contribution to conferences is encouraged. 

 Culture, Growth and Mentorship  

 Partner with us in creating a strong design culture in your office and region. You will be responsible for:  

• Mentoring and growing emerging professionals toward future creative leadership. You will assist in nurturing an environment that exemplifies collaboration, experimentation, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  
• Recruiting and retaining design talent.  
• Creating a stimulating and rewarding environment that sets the tone for design excellence and demonstrates it across the firm.  
• Empowering staff and delegating effectively; building high-performance teams by encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.  
• Provoking critical thinking and critique of our work.  
• Leading by example, pursuing and winning design work that represents our future selves and advancing our Living-Centered Design philosophy.  

Client and Business Development 

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining client relationships; building client trust and loyalty; and collaborating in bringing in work. You will be expected to build upon CannonDesign’s legacy clients as well as your own prior relationships for these purposes. You will seek out and identify new client opportunities for CannonDesign in collaboration with the business development and marketing teams.  You will be expected to participate in client and project pursuit strategies from the early identification of target clients and opportunities through the proposal submittal and interview process.    In service of top line success, you will have a contributory goal of $2M in net signed fees annually in collaboration with your office practice and market leaders.  

ABOUT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture required. Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture from an accredited program preferred.  
• 15 years minimum experience in a design leadership role, of which a minimum of 3 years are leading others in a design studio or design practice segment required.  
• Current US Architectural Registration preferred.  
• Additional accreditation and/or training relevant to this role is preferred, including LEED.  
• Design portfolio of significant built and unbuilt work. Third party recognition of your work as a lead or supporting design role by local, regional, or national design awards programs and recognized design publications or digital platforms is preferred.  
• Strong oral presentation and storytelling skills required.  
• Must be able to understand and execute business strategy.  
• Must have professional acumen and maturity demonstrated by the ability to communicate authentically and respectfully.  
• Travel required.   

• We are relentless in our pursuit of client adoration (not simply satisfaction). Consistent delivery of the best service is what we are about.
• We are committed to ensuring our practice is equitable for all employees, representative of the communities around us – and focused on the future of design. We advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts through the leadership of our DEI Council, Employee Resource Groups and other community advocacy initiatives
• We’re about communication and transparency here. If you want to talk to someone about an idea you have, or a challenge that needs addressing, we’re ready for you.