Executive Director, Science and Education

CannonDesign

2h•$270,000 - $290,000•Remote

About The Position

The firmwide market convergence director (“convergence director”) is responsible for elevating the CannonDesign (CD) brand (including all brands under the CD umbrella across all regions) in meaningful and measurable ways that contribute to growing impact, strengthening reputation, and scaling your assigned market foci within the company to achieve doubling of revenue every 8 years. Three Convergence Director positions were filled earlier this year. Each is responsible for assigned markets and for working collaboratively toward collective success with all convergence directors, regional directors, regional design directors, and consulting leaders. The four specific assignments and Business Titles for the firmwide market convergence leaders are: Executive Director, Market Strategies & Growth, HEALTH for ALL; Executive Director, Market Strategies & Growth, SCIENCE & EDUCATION; Executive Director, Market Strategies & Growth, LIVE, WORK, PLAY; Executive Director, Market Strategies & Growth, INCUBATE & LAUNCH; Executive Director, Market Strategies & Growth, CONSULTING. The SCIENCE & EDUCATION markets include research, science (includes higher education labs, industry, pharmaceutical), K12 education, higher education, community colleges, allied health and vocational/technical schools. Health for All also intersects this collaboration through research, discovery, and preparation of the next generation clinical workforce. Commercial market intersects this collaboration in its work with multiple industry sectors, private commercial research and biomanufacturing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree is required for this role.
Significant experience and proven track record within the markets assigned to this role, as demonstrated by progressive leadership responsibilities and employment experience at well-known and highly respected organizations or companies within the respective markets.
Visibility and positive reputation within industry networks of value to the firm and the markets we serve.
Track record of consistent presence, visibility, and championing a unique and thoughtful point-of-view at thought leadership and industry events.
Identifiable and recognizable personal brand and/or professional reputation consistent with CannonDesign’s ambitions and values.
Significant travel is required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degrees are preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute regional, national, or international growth plans which align with the ambitions of the firm through our strategic framework with a target of a minimum of 10% year over year growth in the assigned core markets and submarkets.
Grow CannonDesign brand (and all sub-brands) through selectively sourcing the work we pursue and the strategic partnerships we develop – with other firms, with industry or academic partners, and more. Build a culture of clients and partners for life over commodity work.
Achieve growth through launching new office locations, services, or business lines.
Achieve growth in building out new capabilities, market lines and services through a close relationship and support by the Regional Directors.
Achieve the metrics of success of your assigned markets and the ultimate success of the entire team of Convergence Directors, Regional Directors, and Regional Design Directors.
Lead a group of markets that contribute to the firm’s annual financial success by contributing to an after-TCC profit in the range of 15% to 25%.
Act as a leading ambassador of our brand, responsible for demonstrating how our Living-Centered Design ethos comes to life in our culture and in the way we interact with clients, other firms, and business and strategic partners.
Provide executive level leadership, guidance and support to Region, Market, Business (FOS, Software, and Consulting) and Practice Leaders (prime engineering, environmental graphics, lighting) in the development and execution of a regional and national strategies focused on growth and impact, including achieving top line targets and successful financial results which will support a minimum 10% growth of your markets year over year.
Own and be accountable for the overall growth and success of the group of markets assigned to you, as well as being expected to support growth initiatives in other markets and all regions.
Work closely with firmwide markets and services leaders to create strong awareness of services and a culture of integrated partnership in the work we do and that you will assist in elevating all brands, services, and capabilities under the CannonDesign umbrella.
Develop, execute, and assess business strategies that advance the growth of the markets under your leadership.
Lead, engage and partner with other convergence, regional and firmwide leadership to advance entrepreneurial opportunities, innovative market solutions, and impactful design solutions that differentiate the firm and create opportunities for increased market presence, regional, and national growth.
Act as a leading voice for the markets within your group, both externally and internally.
Engage in, as well as lead, activities that promote and elevate the brands of the firm.
Champion Living-Centered Design and bring our firm’s purpose—to help people continuously flourish—to life in every touchpoint you have with employees, clients, and the broader communities we serve and with which we are aligned.
Create a positive culture through visible, strong, inspirational leadership.
Advance a collaborative environment that empowers employees to actively work toward achieving the Markets’ and the Firm’s strategic goals.
Partner with other Firmwide Convergence / Market Leaders, Regional Directors, and Regional Design Directors to advance the growth of the Firm.
Focus on sourcing opportunities for new project work and partnerships that advance our brand and grow the company.
Bring the right talent into the firm, focused on strengthening awareness of the brand and elevating our reputation in ways that contribute to firm growth and success.
Provide leadership, guidance, and support, assisting market leaders and sharing accountability to achieve firm wide goals and meeting individual role responsibilities and expectations.
Collaborate and partner with Regional Directors, Regional Design Directors, Regional Process Leaders, Business and Practice leaders, and other Firmwide Convergence / Market Leaders in activities and initiatives that collectively support and align with the strategic direction of the Firm.
Define and execute a strategic convergence market growth plan, aligned with the Strategic Framework and the Chief Strategy Officer.
Partner and engage with other firm, office, and market leaders to contribute to market-specific regional business plans which identify key business strategies and entrepreneurial initiatives focused on the continued growth and impact on your markets and the firm overall.
Engage Region, Office, Market, Business Line, and other leaders as appropriate, across the entire firm to participate in the process, communicate, and champion the initiatives set forth.
Partner with Office Practice Leaders, Market Leaders, and Business Line Leaders to identify growth market opportunities, key target clients and yearly Net Signed Fee targets that will increase the business volume of your markets a minimum of 10% per year.
Champion clients for life vs commodity work.
Support all market and services and champion strategic initiatives that differentiate CannonDesign in the marketplace, promote the full range of our integrated design services and support the advancement of Living-Centered Design.
Contribute measurably to the success of those who are accountable for the top line success of each region and business or practice by sourcing new relationships, making introductions to key leaders and influencers on the owners’ side, and opening as many strategic doors as possible for others in the firm.
Work with others to evaluate and take appropriate action to address the senior talent needs in the markets in your areas of convergence.
Contribute visibly and impactfully to building strong leadership teams capable of expanding our growth potential for our markets.
Identify new potential markets, practices, and business lines for investment and development and bring those ideas forward to the Chief Strategy Officer and the executive enterprise team for consideration.
Support research and development and encourage development of new ideas, services, and products to differentiate the firm and expand business potential.
Work closely and constantly with the BMBD leadership team to define opportunities and develop content that drives, manages, and strengthens CannonDesign’s image, brand, reputation, and market footprint.
Assist with identifying and developing salient topics that will be of interest to our core markets, target clients, and potential partners.
Assist with content development, develop your own media presence and personal brand in ways that benefit the businesses under the firm’s umbrella and drive new opportunities to the firm.
Constantly and consistently create opportunities that bring attention to the firm and advance the initiatives in the strategic framework and drive top line NSF growth.
Represent the Firm externally at national events, conferences, think tanks, workshops, conventions that continually support the overall brand and direction of the firm.
Write, speak, and communicate externally through 3-5 venues annually.
Work with the Executive team annually to identify strategic placement / speaking opportunities.
Maintain an extensive national network demonstrated by ability to connect the firm to talent, industry leaders, regional stakeholders, and strategic partners.