Director, Workplace Strategy & Design

Hearst•New York, NY

7d•$150,000 - $170,000

About The Position

The Director, Workplace Strategy & Design develops and implements workplace strategies for Hearst Tower, Sheffield, and other domestic locations. The role assesses current and future workplace needs based on business objectives, headcount projections, organizational changes, work styles, and operational requirements, and leads space planning, occupancy planning, workplace scenario development, and recommendations to improve utilization, flexibility, employee experience, and operational efficiency. The position leads corporate interior design direction and maintains workplace design and space-planning standards. It reviews design concepts and construction documents; advises executives and project partners; and leads furniture, fixtures, equipment, lighting, and related interior-element selection, specification, procurement, installation, and inventory management. The role also oversees workplace space management systems, assignments, occupancy records, and internal moves and changes. The Director manages or oversees workplace renovation, relocation, and reconfiguration projects nationwide from planning through completion. This includes establishing scope, budgets, schedules, and design criteria; coordinating internal and external project teams; monitoring project delivery; conducting site visits; and overseeing installation and closeout. Anticipated domestic travel is 10–20%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Interior Design, Architecture, Workplace Strategy, Strategic Interior Planning, Facilities Planning, Project Management, or a related field.
10+ years of experience in corporate interiors, workplace strategy, interior design, space planning, FF&E, project management, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated experience developing workplace strategies and leading corporate interior design initiatives.
Proven experience managing interior renovation, relocation, or workplace implementation projects from concept through completion.
Strong expertise in corporate interiors, workplace planning, furniture systems, materials, finishes, lighting, and installation.
Experience managing FF&E selection, specification, procurement, installation, and inventory.
Strong understanding of space management, occupancy planning, blocking and stacking, and move/add/change processes.
Experience working with executives, business leaders, user groups, architects, interior designers, dealers, manufacturers, contractors, and project managers.
Proficiency with AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, test-fit tools, or comparable design and workplace planning software.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Demonstrated design expertise, including meaningful experience with corporate interiors, workplace planning, FF&E, materials, finishes, and design decision-making.
Excellent verbal, written, visual communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
Strong design judgment, strategic thinking, and attention to detail.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, budgeting, negotiation, and vendor-management skills.
Ability to translate business objectives into practical workplace and design solutions.
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Ability to review and evaluate design documents, furniture specifications, schedules, budgets, and construction-related information.
Ability to prioritize work, delegate effectively, and make sound decisions.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and related design, workplace, space management, and project management software.

Nice To Haves

Experience with space management, furniture management, workplace, or project management systems.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement short- and long-term workplace strategies for Hearst Tower, Sheffield, and other domestic locations.
Assess current and future workplace needs using business objectives, headcount projections, organizational changes, work styles, and operational requirements.
Lead programming, test fits, blocking and stacking, adjacency planning, occupancy planning, and workplace scenario development.
Recommend ways to improve space utilization, flexibility, departmental adjacencies, employee experience, and operational efficiency.
Partner with business units and senior leadership to gather requirements and translate them into workplace solutions.
Establish and maintain workplace planning standards, guidelines, reporting processes, and recommendations on allocation, capacity, utilization, and future planning.
Lead corporate interior design direction and maintain standards for space planning, furniture, materials, finishes, color, lighting, signage, branding, and workplace typologies.
Review design concepts, test fits, finish palettes, furniture plans, specifications, and construction documents.
Provide design recommendations to executives, business leaders, user groups, architects, interior designers, dealers, and manufacturers.
Lead selection, specification, procurement, and installation of furniture, fixtures, equipment, lighting, accessories, and related interior elements.
Review and approve FF&E specifications, pricing, orders, substitutions, and vendor recommendations.
Manage the New York master furniture inventory and support nationwide inventory visibility and procurement.
Establish preferred products, vendors, and purchasing strategies; update Hearst Design and Construction guidelines as needed.
Balance design quality, functionality, durability, sustainability, employee experience, schedule, and cost.
Oversee the workplace space management system, including WISP and office space assignments, and maintain occupancy, floor-plan, allocation, assignment, and chargeback information.
Coordinate office moves, adds, changes, reconfigurations, and other workplace modifications, and improve processes for managing them.
Partner with Human Resources, Facilities, Technology, and business units to coordinate workplace changes and minimize disruption.
Manage relationships with movers, installers, furniture vendors, and other workplace service providers.
Review post-occupancy feedback and recommend improvements to workplace planning, design, furniture, and space management practices.
Manage or oversee nationwide interior workplace renovation, relocation, and reconfiguration projects from planning through completion.
Establish project scope, objectives, requirements, budgets, schedules, design criteria, and FF&E expectations.
Coordinate architects, designers, engineers, project managers, dealers, contractors, movers, installers, and other consultants.
Monitor project scope, schedule, budget, quality, risks, procurement, and deliverables; review proposals, schedules, budgets, change orders, design documents, and consultant deliverables.
Ensure projects align with approved workplace strategies, design standards, FF&E requirements, budgets, and schedules.
Conduct site visits and oversee construction progress, furniture installation, punch-list completion, and project closeout.
Develop and maintain project management guidelines, forms, reporting standards, and implementation processes.
Select, engage, and manage local third-party project management services when required.
Support selection, bidding, and negotiation of architectural, engineering, project management, furniture, and general contracting services.
Evaluate and implement project management tools and systems that improve communication, consistency, and accountability.