Senior Technical Director

JLL • Chicago, CO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

JLL Design is seeking a Senior Technical Director to lead the technical team across its national workplace interiors practice. The role sets technical direction from concept through documentation and construction, and partners with studio and practice leaders to support client delivery and business growth. The director is accountable for managing design solutions across multiple projects and studios, serving as technical lead, producer, and client liaison, establishing practice best practices, introducing new solutions, and leading quality assurance and control through every design phase.

The position leads the national technical team and owns the practice’s technical strategy, standards, workflows, quality measures, and technical talent development. It partners with studio leaders, Architects of Record, consultants, and clients, and oversees documentation, contract documents, quality control, and construction administration. The role is based on-site in Chicago, Illinois, with travel to project sites and studios as required (expected 20%). The position does not provide visa sponsorship; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Requirements

• 20+ years of experience working on commercial interior design projects.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture.
• Completion of Architectural Registration Exams and licensure in at least one state.
• Fluency in AutoCAD, Revit, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Extensive knowledge of building codes and accessibility guidelines, including researching requirements across jurisdictions and providing interpretations consistent with best practices.
• Excellent client communication and relationship management skills, including with senior client stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, self-managed, entrepreneurial approach, with the ability to multitask and organize several projects at a time.
• Demonstrated experience directly leading, coaching, and evaluating technical teams, including direct reports across multiple studios, offices, or regions, and assessing technical performance.
• Ability to establish a technical vision and roadmap for a national practice, turn it into clear priorities and measurable goals, and create standards, templates, and workflows that teams adopt and sustain.
• Track record of developing technical leaders through coaching, succession planning, and talent retention.
• Working knowledge of project risk management, contract documentation, and professional liability considerations.
• Financial acumen, including technical budgets, staffing, and utilization.
• Ability to influence and build trust with studio leaders, Architects of Record, and consultants at senior levels.
• Experience evaluating and rolling out BIM standards and emerging tools to improve quality and efficiency.
• Excellent listening and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage concurrent deadlines, prioritize assignments, and perform under pressure.
• Collaborative culture builder who models inclusion and belonging.
• Receptive to feedback and direction from others.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a design team.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead the national technical team, set priorities, allocate resources across studios, and provide direction, feedback, and career development.
• Define and own the practice’s technical strategy, including standards, tools, templates, processes, and workflows, and ensure consistent adoption across studios.
• Hire, onboard, coach, and retain technical talent, and develop future technical leaders.
• Partner with studio and practice leaders to align technical resources with project demand and business goals.
• Set quality, risk, and technical performance measures; report results; identify gaps; and implement corrective plans.
• Oversee technical excellence and quality control of drawings across the practice, including documentation, redlining, and mentoring team members on technical work products and quality control procedures.
• Champion firm standards for project delivery and internal quality assurance and control.
• Collaborate with firm Architects of Record to ensure work meets firm standards, supports design intent, and translates into buildable solutions.
• Conduct workshops, classes, and sessions, including at the annual staff summit, to educate others on technical aspects of project work.
• Serve as the internal resource for code reviews, technical content, and production of contract documents.
• Attend industry conferences and seminars to acquire education and credentials as required.
• Oversee construction administration to ensure work products comply with documented design intent.
• Understand technical budgets and offer cost-effective solutions as needed.
• Communicate concepts and ideas through written, drawn, and verbal means.
• Advise leadership on investment needs for annual planning and identify and plan technical investments during fiscal strategy planning.
• Travel to project sites and studios as required; expected travel is 20%.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care
• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay
• Supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package prioritizing mental, physical, and emotional health

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior