Job Description

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If you think your skills and experience make you a good match for this position, we’d love to hear from you. Preference may be given to candidates that can work in one of the CannonDesign locations.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will provide leadership of a firmwide creative practice for CannonDesign. This includes being responsible for the oversight and leadership of creative and innovation excellence in the interiors practice within the company. The role also includes being responsible for the leadership, development, and implementation of a Practice Business Plan focused on strategies to advance the growth and impact of the practice.

You will contribute to the success of the firm by setting new thresholds for creativity and innovation; defining new strategies for market differentiation, business development and client positioning; client and team leadership; and resource development. You will be accountable for managing your practice in concert with overall firm business practices, integrating our range of design services, and delivering solid financial performance.

Importantly, you will be an ambassador of the firm’s brand, championing Living-Centered Design, developing and advancing the unique brand of your practice, and advancing your personal brand and reputation in service of practice and firm success.

Design Excellence:

You will be accountable for design excellence, innovation and overall design quality in the practice. This responsibility will include regular touchpoints with leaders and others in your practice; holding virtual and in-person design reviews; and providing oversight of third-party recognition, including publication of projects in design and market-specific media outlets, as well as other potential opportunities for publication such as articles on research and innovation.

Your practice will be expected to regularly submit and successfully win design awards, contributing to Firm portfolio.

Practice Leadership:

Responsible for developing and advancing strategic initiatives that advance an innovative practice. As our Strategic Framework states, you must be willing to “develop the highest potential, best opportunities for strategic differentiation – our competitive advantages – and take them further, faster.” Working with other leaders in your practice, you will lead the development of the Practice Business Plan. This plan will outline strategies and actionable items that improve the practice by identifying and advancing new opportunities, client engagement and development, market differentiation, brand recognition, and team building/leadership, all in concert with firm-wide goals.

You will develop and lead a diverse team of creatives, building a practice community with a strong sense of connection and identity. You will ensure the recruitment of top-tier talent and the functioning of high-performance teams, holding leaders in your practice accountable for the mentorship and growth of the next generation.

Practice Growth:

Identify future trends and opportunities for the growth of the practice, both internally through our integrated platform, and externally with new prime market and business opportunities. Demonstrate the highest level of knowledge of design practice, including future growth opportunities, new and innovative practices in addition to best practices, and design initiatives that leverage and expand the capabilities of the firm.

Top Line Development:

Collaborate with Regional, Market, Service, and Office Leaders and other firm-wide resources to focus on growing the top line of the firm by identifying and/or actively participating in the pursuit of new target clients as well as nurturing existing ones. Additionally, you will identify and pursue “prime” client opportunities promoting the full range of our integrated design services. In this role you will have a personal minimum goal of achieving top line success of $3.0M per year in net signed fees in addition to setting top line development goals for the overall growth of the Practice.

Bottom Line Success:

Collaborate with the Regional Director, Regional Process Director, Office Practice Leader, and Market Leaders to ensure that the business plan bottom line initiatives are successfully implemented. Achieve at a minimum the firm’s profitability goals for each year.

ABOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Bachelor's degree in interior design, interior architecture or architecture required. Current NCIDQ certification preferred. 18 years minimum experience in a design leadership role, of which a minimum of 5 years are leading others in a design studio or design practice segment required. Additional accreditation and/or training relevant to this role is preferred, including LEED.

Design portfolio of significant built and unbuilt work. Third party recognition of your work as a lead or supporting design role by local, regional, or national design awards programs and recognized design publications or digital platforms is preferred.

Strong oral presentation and storytelling skills required. Must be able to understand and execute business strategy. Must have professional acumen and maturity demonstrated by the ability to communicate authentically and respectfully. Build a creative culture and a community that makes space for exploration. Inspire others. Demonstrate creativity and innovation and champion the same in others. Translate our Living-Centered Design ethos through our work.

Be a partner to others: champion SFMO and collaboration, show fairness in actions and decisions, always putting our firm first. Build our Brand - Be connected externally. Be visible. Champion an ethical culture and hold others accountable for the same. Demonstrate ownership and accountability. Demonstrate sound judgment and business acumen. Demonstrate optimistic and inclusive leadership of a diverse team. Travel required.

ABOUT OUR FIRM

We’re a design practice at the nexus of strategy, experience, architecture, engineering and social impact. We dream up, create and bring to life solutions that enhance human vitality, further equity, strengthen communities and safeguard our planet all at once. We’ve been recognized multiple times by Fast Company as one of the most innovative design firms in the world.