Senior Design Director - Specialized Environments

jackmortonworldwide; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Jack Morton Worldwide seeks a Senior Design Director (Specialized Environments) to lead creative development, design direction, and execution across broadcast, workplace, sports, and cultural environments.

You will mentor teams, translate brand and business goals into compelling physical experiences, and guide projects from concept through production while collaborating with cross-disciplinary partners.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in environmental or experiential design.
• Experience leading complex spatial design projects from concept through execution.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating environmental or experiential design.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design vision for complex environmental and broadcast design projects from concept through design development.
• Guide the development of mood boards, plans, elevations, renderings, and design documents.
• Present work clearly to clients and senior stakeholders and translate design thinking into compelling narratives.
• Mentor designers and support growth of the team and practice.

Skills

Creative Leadership

Project Leadership

Client Communication

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in design

Job description

Experience Without Limits

Come shape the future of brand experience.

At Jack Morton, we design and build head-turning, smile-inducing, impact-driving brand experiences that redefine what experiential marketing can achieve. We help our clients unlock the full value of experiences by turning bold ideas into meaningful connections.

That takes a team that's bold, curious, and acts as one. We build on each other's ideas, challenge conventions, and show up for one another every day. Here, you'll do your best work, grow quickly, and partner across clients, disciplines, and global teams to bring new ideas to life.

This is a place where curiosity drives what's next, boldness raises the bar, and every win is shared. Where ownership is expected, egos are left at the door, and the work reflects the passion and talent of the people behind it.

Experience without limits-in your work, your growth, and your impact.

NYC strongly preferred / ability to work hybrid in a Jack US office preferred

The Senior Design Director (Specialized Environments) will play a key leadership role within the Specialized Environments practice, helping lead the creative development, design direction, and execution of high-profile environments across broadcast, branded experiences, workplace, sports, entertainment, cultural, and permanent spatial experiences.

This role requires more than strong design talent. We are looking for a senior creative leader who can guide complex projects, build client confidence, mentor design teams, and help shape the future growth of the Specialized Environments group. The ideal candidate brings a strong point of view, a deep understanding of environmental and spatial design, and the ability to translate brand, content, audience, and business objectives into compelling physical experiences. They should be comfortable moving from early strategy and concept development through design detailing, presentation, and execution.

This person should be able to lead in the room, inspire the team, partner across disciplines, and help elevate the quality, clarity, and ambition of the work.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Leadership

• Lead the design vision for complex environmental and broadcast design projects from concept through design development.
• Create and guide strong design concepts that connect brand, storytelling, audience experience, and physical space.
• Bring a high level of taste, design judgment, and spatial thinking to the work.
• Push creative ideas beyond expected solutions while staying grounded in client goals, schedule, budget, and execution realities.
• Help establish and maintain the creative bar for the Specialized Environments practice.

Project Leadership

• Lead design workstreams across multiple projects, from initial brief through presentation and production handoff.
• Partner with strategy, creative, account, project management, production, fabrication, technical, and vendor teams.
• Guide the development of mood boards, concept narratives, plans, sketches, elevations, material direction, renderings, presentations, and design documentation.
• Ensure design intent is clearly communicated and protected throughout the process.
• Identify challenges early and help drive solutions with the internal team and external partners.

Client Leadership

• Present work clearly and confidently to clients and senior stakeholders.
• Translate complex design thinking into clear, compelling narratives.
• Build trust with clients through strong communication, creative confidence, and thoughtful problem-solving.
• Receive and respond to client feedback while maintaining the integrity of the design idea.
• Support new business opportunities, pitches, and capabilities presentations as needed.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Mentor designers and help grow the creative capabilities of the team.
• Provide clear, constructive feedback that improves the work and supports individual growth.
• Help organize design reviews, internal critiques, and creative development sessions.
• Support a collaborative studio culture built around curiosity, accountability, craft, and shared learning.
• Serve as a senior creative partner to the Head of Specialized Environments and other design leaders.

Practice Growth

• Help expand the Specialized Environments offering across broadcast, sports, entertainment, brand experience, workplace, cultural, retail, hospitality, and immersive environments.
• Bring fresh thinking, industry awareness, and a point of view on where the practice can grow.
• Contribute to thought leadership, case studies, capabilities decks, and internal initiatives.
• Help identify new creative opportunities with existing and future clients.

Ideal Experience

• 10+ years of experience in environmental design, experiential design, architecture, interior design, scenic design, broadcast design, branded environments, or a related field.
• Experience leading complex spatial design projects from concept through execution.
• Strong portfolio demon