Design Leader - Hospitality

Gensler • Washington, DC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Gensler Design Leader, you will lead creative, collaborative teams dedicated to design innovation and excellence within our Hospitality Practice Area. Drawing on your deep understanding of hospitality environments, guest experience, and operational flow, you will bring new approaches to design process and strategy, develop next-generation talent, and help our clients reimagine what’s possible. Our teams design for all of humanity, driving a passionately curious design culture that celebrates storytelling, brand expression, and human connection. We create solutions that are emotionally resonant and that positively impact people’s everyday experiences. Our D.C. team is searching for a Design Leader that specializes in Hospitality interiors.

Requirements

• Portfolio of innovative hospitality interiors projects
• Proven track record of delivering successful, innovative design outcomes for hospitality that have had a significant impact on client satisfaction and business growth.
• Exceptional portfolio showcasing a variety of hospitality focused design projects, highlighting innovative approaches to storytelling and successful client solutions.
• Strong understanding of design principles, guest experience, and project management methodologies.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to articulate design concepts and decisions effectively to clients and teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Possess uncommon design talent, a personal brand and a clear point of view
• Fearless integrator and advocate for diverse points of view and expansive thinking
• Ability to define a project’s creative foundation through storytelling, and merge the goals and strategy with a clear conceptual vision
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of design or architecture
• 15+ years of professional interior design and/or architecture experience; recent and extensive Hospitality interiors project experience is required
• Proficiency in Revit and other computer design programs
• Must have a project portfolio of Hospitality interiors projects (emphasis on common areas, versus guest rooms)

Nice To Haves

• NCIDQ certified, RA and/or LEED accreditation are preferred
• Strong leadership, communication, presentation, and relationship management skills

Responsibilities

• Oversee hospitality-focused design projects from concept through execution, ensuring that our designs are innovative, impactful, and aligned with the firm’s high standards.
• Mentor and inspire the design team to explore new ideas and concepts that elevate the guest experience.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, understanding their needs and objectives to deliver compelling hospitality design solutions.
• Act as the primary point of contact for major projects, ensuring clear communication and satisfaction.
• Partner closely with studio and office leadership to pursue projects with new and existing clients.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive insights.
• Bring fresh ideas and innovations to the table that ensure the firm remains a leader in hospitality design excellence and is well represented and published in the marketplace.
• Provide visionary leadership for the design team, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration within the hospitality practice.
• Develop and implement strategic design initiatives that align with client goals, guest experience objectives, and business objectives.
• Guide designers in discovering their strengths, mentor and coach to enhance and develop design skills.
• Provide open communication, active listening, and thoughtful questioning to unleash the potential of talent and teams within our People First culture.
• Oversee and curate project photography and awards submissions, ensuring hospitality projects are documented and showcased to reflect their design excellence and impact for the firm portfolio.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• disability
• wellness programs
• flex spending
• paid holidays
• paid time off
• 401k
• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees