Design Director – Education

Architectural Design Director

At Gensler, we design for people. We leverage our global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. We're not just designers. We're tinkerers, craftspeople, visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders. Fueled by passion and entrepreneurial spirit, our people bring new ideas to solve challenging problems. Whether you're into sketching new ideas, hacking a building, or growing client relationships in global markets, there's something here for everyone. In our Education Practice Area, we partner with schools, colleges, and universities to design engaging, flexible, and resilient learning environments, drawing on our global research and multidisciplinary expertise to shape experiences that empower all students.

Your Role

We are seeking a dynamic, seasoned architectural Design Director to lead our Education Practice Area with vision and creativity. This role is a pivotal leadership position, requiring a deep passion for educational design and the ability to inspire and guide multi-disciplinary design teams. You will be at the forefront of shaping the next generation of learning environments, driving design excellence, cultivating strong client relationships, and contributing to the strategic growth of our practice.

What You Will Do

• Lead the creative efforts on higher education projects, developing overall planning, design concepts, and presentation strategies
• Mentor and provide creative direction to design teams
• Act as the primary design interface with clients and consultants
• Collaborate with team members and colleagues to promote an inter-disciplinary design approach and philosophy
• Participate in business development and marketing efforts
• Produce design concept drawings and finished design presentation documentation
• Provide solutions to design problems and generate design alternatives
• Review drawings, mockups, materials, and finish samples submitted by project contractors

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of design or architecture
• 15-20+ years of design leadership of architectural design and/or architecture projects; recent education project experience is required
• Must be licensed
• Experience with the Division of State Architect (DSA) requirements
• Strong leadership, communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
• Proficiency in Revit and other computer design programs, 3ds Max preferred
• Must have a portfolio of education projects. Ideally project portfolio will show a range of planning and architectural design experience for a variety of project types (classroom buildings, libraries, student services centers, student housing, etc.)

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 Awareness 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.