Project Director-Wayfinding

The Crowd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Generous annual leave

Social calendar

Job summary

The Crowd in London is seeking a design-focused Project Director to lead complex wayfinding and environmental design projects, collaborating with Directors to shape strategy and delivery. A strong commercial acumen and team leadership are essential for growing the studio’s ambitious pipeline.

The role offers flexible working and a collaborative environment, with opportunities to mentor teams and contribute to new business while delivering high-quality environments.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary wayfinding and environmental design projects.
• Strong leadership of project teams from brief to delivery.
• Excellent client-facing and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the successful delivery of complex wayfinding and environmental design projects from initial brief through to completion.
• Take overall responsibility for project planning, programme, budgets, resourcing and delivery.
• Shape project strategy with Directors and senior stakeholders.
• Lead and mentor project teams with clear direction.
• Manage client relationships as a trusted contact and manage expectations.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, consultants and suppliers to ensure seamless delivery.
• Review design development for technical robustness and alignment with brief.
• Identify risks early and develop pragmatic mitigation.
• Contribute to studio growth through improved processes and knowledge sharing.
• Foster a positive studio culture and collaborative environment.
• Support new business opportunities, pitches and proposals.
• Develop long-term relationships with clients and industry partners.

Skills

Wayfinding

Environmental design

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Design process

Communication

Multi-project delivery

Team mentorship

Job description

The Crowd are partnered with a mid-sized, multidisciplinary international design practice specialising in creating thoughtful, people-centred environments. Due to an exciting increase in their project pipeline, they are looking for a multifaceted and design-focused Project Director with strong commercial awareness to join their collaborative London studio.

This is a key position within the studio, working closely with the wider team and Directors to lead the delivery of complex, high-profile wayfinding and environmental design projects. This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished and confident professional who combines strong wayfinding experience with proven team leadership skills, and who is confident managing projects from initial brief through to delivery. The ideal person will have a positive, people-focused mentality and be driven to successfully deliver high-quality projects while bringing energy, clarity and a collaborative approach to the team.

Our client has an exciting pipeline ahead, with ambitious plans for continued growth. It is therefore essential that you are not only excited by the opportunity to join a company at an important stage of its development, but also have experience supporting a business through growth and fostering a positive, collaborative working environment.

The role would suit either a seasoned Project Leader or a strategic and decisive designer who has operated in a similar capacity and is ready to take on a broader leadership role. This is a rare opportunity to join an ambitious and highly creative design studio, working on projects that have an impact on how people experience and navigate the built environment.

The studio offers a strong benefits package, including flexible working, generous annual leave, and an exciting social calendar, alongside plenty of opportunity to develop and grow with the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the successful delivery of complex wayfinding and environmental design projects from initial brief through to completion.
• Take overall responsibility for project planning, programme, budgets, resourcing and delivery.
• Work closely with Directors and senior stakeholders to shape project strategy and ensure design ambitions are achieved.
• Lead and mentor project teams, providing clear direction, support and guidance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manage client relationships confidently, acting as a trusted point of contact and ensuring expectations are managed effectively.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, consultants, suppliers and external partners to ensure projects are delivered seamlessly.
• Review and oversee design development, ensuring work is technically robust, creatively strong and aligned with the original brief.
• Identify potential risks and challenges early, developing pragmatic solutions to keep projects on track.
• Support the studio’s wider growth by contributing to processes, ways of working and team development.
• Foster a positive, collaborative studio culture, encouraging strong communication, accountability and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to new business opportunities, pitches and proposals where appropriate.
• Help develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with clients and industry partners

Key Skills & Experience

• Strong experience delivering wayfinding, environmental graphic design or related built-environment projects.
• Proven experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects from brief through to completion.
• Confident project and people leader, with experience managing, mentoring and developing teams.
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets, programmes, resources and project risk.
• Excellent client-facing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted, long-term relationships.
• Strategic and decisive, with the ability to make informed decisions and find practical solutions to challenges.
• Strong understanding of the design process, with an appreciation for both creative ambition and successful project delivery.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to bring clarity to complex projects.
• Comfortable working across multiple projects and priorities within a fast-paced studio environment.
• Experience supporting a growing business or team, with an interest in contributing to its continued development.
• A proactive, positive and hands-on approach, with a genuine passion for design and the built environment.

The Crowd is an equal opportunities employer and agency.