Design Director of Special Projects, Workplace & Wellness

ALO•Beverly Hills, CA

About The Position

The candidate should be a senior level design and construction professional who will lead all aspects of the built environment for the company’s corporate offices and wellness ventures. This role bridges creative vision and operational execution — overseeing the full project lifecycle from concept through construction completion — while ensuring every space authentically reflects the brand’s identity and values.

Requirements

10+ years of relevant experience in architecture and construction management, with at least 4 years in a leadership role
Demonstrated experience in retail, hospitality, wellness, and/or branded environment design
Proven track record managing complex construction programs
Self starter and driven individual capable frequent of out of the box thinking
Passion for design and a commitment to design excellence
Excellent analytical and creative problem-solving skills
Passionate, self-starting, intelligent, dedicated, efficient
Strong financial acumen with experience managing capital budgets
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
Strong technical knowledge and understanding of real estate, design and construction
Bachelor and/or Master's Degree in Architecture, or equivalent
Proficiency in Autocad, Sketchup/3D modeling software, Project management platforms (Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, etc.) and GenAI platforms

Responsibilities

Drive the design development and management of 4-8 projects per year of varying size and in varying locations around the globe.
Define and steward the architectural and interior design language across all corporate and wellness properties.
Lead due diligence and feasibility studies on prospective projects.
Lead in-house teams and assemble external teams to execute all stages of the project including concept design (if relevant), design development, construction documents and construction administration, ensuring that all documents and deliverables meet Alo brand standards, architectural quality standards, landlord and project specific requirements.
Manage relationships with external architects, interior designers, and creative firms.
Develop and maintain brand design standards, space guidelines, and prototype concepts.
Collaborate cross-functionally and lead internal communication with Executive stakeholders to align environments with strategic and functional goals.
Oversee all phases of construction — from preconstruction, bid and contractor procurement through punch list and occupancy.
Manage project budgets, schedules, and quality benchmarks across a concurrent portfolio.
Provide resources and develop partnerships in both new and existing markets, including project consultants, vendors, fabricators and GCs.
Evaluate, select, onboard and manage general contractors, specialty subcontractors, and construction management firms (as req.).
Translate wellness programming and brand initiatives into the physical environment.
Partner with wellness operators and brand teams to design environments that support brand guidelines and goals.
Stay current on wellness design trends, biophilic principles, and evidence-based design practices.
Build and manage annual capital expenditure plans.
Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising design integrity.
Present project updates, approvals, and post-occupancy reports to senior leadership.