Design Director – Education

Gensler•Newport Beach, CA

12d

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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 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.)

Responsibilities

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

Benefits

medical
dental
vision
disability
wellness programs
flex spending
paid holidays
paid time off
401 k
profit sharing
employee stock ownership
twice annual bonus opportunities
reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees
reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes