Design Director

Perkins&Will; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 162,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Perkins&Will in Denver is seeking a seasoned design leader to join the Management, Operations, and Design leadership team. The role emphasizes leading design excellence, mentoring talent, and driving studio growth through innovative design practices and collaboration.

The ideal candidate will possess a professional degree in Architecture, a valid architectural license, and at least 15 years of professional experience, showcasing strong leadership and project management abilities.

The compensation range for this role is between $162,000 and $195,000 annually, reflecting the firm’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in architecture.
• Strong ideator and conceptual thinker.
• Experience in hiring and directing project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary design leadership and establish creative direction for the studio.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire multidisciplinary design teams.
• Build relationships with clients and industry influencers.

Skills

Architectural design leadership

Mentoring and coaching

Project budgeting

Client relationship management

Knowledge of industry regulations

Revit knowledge

Strong design portfolio

Education

Professional degree in Architecture

Professional architectural license

Tools

Revit

Rhino

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

As a key member of the studio's Management, Operations, and Design (MOD) leadership team, you will lead by example—elevating design quality, mentoring the next generation of talent, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, and representing Perkins&Will within the profession and community. This is an opportunity for a proven design leader who is passionate about both exceptional design and developing others to achieve their full potential.

What You'll Do

Lead Design Excellence

• Provide visionary design leadership and establish a clear creative direction for the studio.
• Guide teams in developing innovative design concepts aligned with project goals and client expectations.
• Oversee the quality of design processes, project delivery, and built outcomes.
• Champion creative excellence and ensure all projects align with the firm’s Living Design Framework.
• Conduct design reviews and quality‑control reviews throughout project development.
• Work with firmwide leadership to organize and execute peer workshops at appropriate project milestones.
• Stay current on emerging industry trends, technologies, and design practices.

Build and Develop High‑Performing Teams

• Lead, mentor, coach, and inspire multidisciplinary design teams.
• Foster a collaborative and creative work environment.
• Partner with Talent Managers and studio leadership to recruit, interview, hire, and develop design talent.
• Support the growth of diverse talent and skillsets across the studio.
• Mentor staff and help them achieve both personal and professional development goals.
• Facilitate ongoing learning through design discussions, conferences, seminars, and educational opportunities.
• Build long‑term bench strength and cultivate future design leaders.

Serve as a Studio and Client Leader

• Partner with the Managing Director and Operations Director to establish strategic goals and ensure execution.
• Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and project teams to develop innovative solutions that achieve functional, aesthetic, and financial objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, decision‑makers, consultants, and industry influencers.
• Represent the firm’s commitment to design within public, professional, cultural, and academic communities.
• Build relationships with professional organizations and academic institutions.

Contribute to Studio Growth

• Participate in staffing decisions and team composition.
• Support project planning, scope development, work plans, and fee negotiations.
• Participate in marketing activities, including go/no‑go decisions and interview leadership.
• Help strategize, pursue, and win work for the studio.
• Partner in developing and maintaining the studio’s design vision.
• Advance studio initiatives related to career development, talent advancement, and inclusion.

Required Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture or related discipline.
• Professional architectural license.
• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience.
• Knowledge of industry regulations, life‑safety requirements, and building codes.
• Knowledge of site analysis, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, contract documents, and construction administration.
• Strong ideator and conceptual thinker.
• Strong design portfolio, ideally broad‑based on a range of project types.
• Strong project budgeting and contract negotiation skills.
• Strong working relationships with clients and consultants.
• Experience in hiring, directing, mentoring, and coordinating successful project teams.
• Working knowledge of Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Enscape, and VRay.
• LEED GA and one Living Design accreditation upon hire or within six months of hire.

Salary Range Information

We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, competitive, and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions include but are not limited to a candidate’s qualifications, including skill sets, education, experience and training, licensure and certifications, credentials if applicable, and business‑related factors. This practice extends to all employees, including performance considerations for merit increases, job promotions, and transfer opportunities. We additionally review our pay practices, conduct pay equity audits, and ensure our managers are trained in our pay practices on an annual basis.

At the time of posting this job advertisement, the annual pay salary range for this position in Denver is between $162,000 and $195,000.

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

At Perkins&Will we believe that inclusion spurs creativity and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people + ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve.

"Design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community."

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Perkins&Will has established and adopted an Equal Employment Opportunity Employment policy (“EEO”), which is part of the Company’s Human Resources Policy. The purpose of this EEO policy is to ensure that all employment decisions are made on a non‑discriminatory basis, and without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender reassignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state, or local law. In some cases, local laws and regulations may provide greater protections than those outlined here and employees will be covered by the laws of their local jurisdiction.