Perkins&Will · 18 hours ago
Design Director
Houston, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Director/ExecutivePerkins&Will is a firm committed to creating a better, beautiful, more equitable world through Living Design. The Design Director will champion excellence within a designated studio, leading design efforts, mentoring talent, and fostering a culture of creativity.
ArchitectureInterior DesignSustainability
Responsibilities
Partnering with the Managing Director and Operations Director to lead the studio by setting strategic goals and ensuring adherence to the goals
Provide visionary design leadership by setting a clear direction for the studio, guiding teams in the creation of design concepts, and ensuring alignment with project goals and client expectations
Oversee the quality of the design process, product, and delivery for the studio
Champion creative excellence and ensures all projects in each practice area of the studio fulfill the firm’s Living Design Framework
Participate in project scope delineation, work plan creation and implementation, and fee negotiations
Participate in staffing and team organization and composition by helping to identify team members for project teams in alignment with client goals, team member skillsets, and aspirations
Lead, mentor, and inspire multidisciplinary design teams to foster a collaborative and creative work environment
Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and project teams to understand project requirements and develops innovative design solutions that meet functional, aesthetic, and financial objectives
Ensure all project information is up to date in HUB
Provide guidance to project teams and conducts regular design and quality control reviews to ensure that the firm’s standards and design goals are being met
Work with firmwide leadership to request, organize and execute peer workshops at the appropriate point for each project
Engage with studio colleagues and project teams to request, organize, and execute peer workshops at the appropriate point for each project
Establish and maintain strong relationships with key decision makers and influencers on client teams
Partner with local Talent Managers and studio leadership to identify, interview, recruit, and mentor design staff
Partner with the Interiors Design Director to provide visionary design leadership by setting a clear direction for the studio’s design, guiding teams in the creation of design concepts, and ensuring alignment with project goals and client expectations
Advance the design culture of the firm at the local studio level, focusing on firmwide initiatives like DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), career development, and talent advancement
Mentor staff to ensure their personal and professional development goals are met
Actively participate in the Design Leadership Group. Represents and champions Design Council directives and goals Crafts and maintains the studio’s manifesto in partnership with the Managing Director, Operations Director, and other principals
Facilitate the professional development of all design staff through sponsorship of educational seminars, conferences, and internal design discussions
Build relationships with professional organizations and academic institutions
Keep abreast of current developments, trends, and practices within the design industry
Monitor, advise, review, and actively participate in studio marketing activities, helping to strategize and win stand-alone and integrated work to include all go/no-go decisions, go-to market interview strategy preparation, and has a leadership role at interviews
Demonstrable track record of peer recognized, award winning built/unbuilt designs that have been published nationally and potentially internationally
Partner with design teams to compose written and graphic presentations for clients, stakeholders and peer reviewers to include the choreography of internal design submittals for peer juried workshops and competitions
Qualification
Required
Architectural license, NCIDQ, or LARE as appropriate
Bachelor's degree in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design or related discipline required
LEED GA within 6 months of hire
Professional accreditation in one area of Living Design that interests you: LEED AP with Specialty, BREEAM AP, WELL AP, SITES AP, CPHC/CPHE Passive House Institute Certified Passive House, or ILFI Living Future Accreditation
Working knowledge of Revit
Working knowledge of conceptual modeling tools such as Rhino and Grasshopper
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office / Adobe Suite
Working knowledge of visualization tools such as Enscape and VRay
Company
Perkins&Will
Since 1935, we’ve believed that design has the power to make the world a better, more beautiful place.
Founded in 1935
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Perkins&Will has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (62)
2024 (40)
2023 (62)
2022 (42)
2021 (22)
2020 (44)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Dana Waymire
Principal - Finance + Operations
Gina Berndt
Principal, Chief Marketing Officer
Recent News
Sports Business Journal
2025-11-08
2025-10-24
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