Regional Design Director - East Region

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Regional Design Director - East Region Company: CannonDesign Location: United States - Remote (Preference for East Region offices: Arlington, VA, Baltimore, Boston, New York City) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Design Leadership / Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-08T19:24:38 Experience Level: 10+ years (with specific emphasis on 20+ years in design leadership and 3+ years leading teams) Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversees Creative Excellence: Responsible for driving and maintaining high standards of design quality and innovation across a designated geographic region, ensuring all projects reflect the company's Living-Centered Design ethos.
• Team Development & Mentorship: Cultivates a collaborative, experimental, and entrepreneurial design community within the region, focusing on mentorship and the growth of future design leaders.
• Strategic Business Partnership: Integrates design aspirations into regional and firm-wide business goals, contributing to strategic growth plans and financial success through design-led initiatives.
• External Representation & Brand Ambassadorship: Acts as a leading voice for the firm's design vision, representing the company at regional events, conferences, and through publications.
• Client-Centric Innovation: Leads select clients through innovative design concepts, effectively communicating design impact and value, and capturing key client goals and metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Regional Design Director," the responsibilities described, particularly around strategic growth, business metrics, and cross-functional leadership, indicate a strong operational component. This role requires not only design vision but also the ability to manage and optimize design processes, talent, and business development within a region, aligning it with broader organizational goals. The emphasis on "creative operations" and "business fluency" points towards an operations-centric leadership role within the design discipline. This is not a purely creative role but one that operationalizes design strategy for business impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Quality Assurance: Accountable for design excellence and overall quality across the region through regular design-standard reviews, both virtual and in-person.
• Project Portfolio Enhancement: Oversees regional third-party recognition, including project publications in design and market-specific media, and submission for design awards to contribute to the firm's portfolio.
• Living-Centered Design Advocacy: Acts as a leading voice in translating the firm's Living-Centered Design ethos into tangible client solutions and regional narratives.
• Marketing & Communications Collaboration: Partners with marketing and communications teams to build strong narratives and communicate the impact of regional work externally.
• External Thought Leadership: Represents the firm at regional events, conferences, and industry forums, speaking and writing on design innovation and research at least 3-5 times annually.
• Client Design Leadership: Leads select clients in developing innovative design concepts, synthesizing client culture, goals, and aspirations with broader societal and environmental needs.
• Design Presentation & Storytelling: Delivers compelling design presentations to clients, emphasizing storytelling and articulating how design solutions add value and meet key client goals and metrics.
• Design Community Cultivation: Nurtures a regional community of designers, fostering collaboration, experimentation, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
• Talent Management & Development: Partners with executive leadership on recruiting and retaining senior design leaders, and holds them accountable for mentoring and growing the next generation of design leaders.
• High-Performance Team Coordination: Ensures high-performance design teams in all regional offices, coordinating with regional leadership to fill talent gaps and support creative staff.
• Organizational Transformation: Serves as the leading regional voice for the firm's aspiration to be a globally recognized, impact-driven solutions design firm.
• Strategic Growth Planning: Participates in the definition and execution of regional growth plans, engaging senior design leaders to champion business strategies and entrepreneurial initiatives.
• Business Metric Alignment: Contributes leadership skills to the Regional Director in developing and executing regional strategies focused on growth and impact, including achieving top-line targets and supporting a minimum 10% year-over-year regional growth.
• Cross-Regional Support: Supports design-led growth initiatives in other regions, demonstrating a collective approach to firm success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a dual focus on design leadership and operational execution. The emphasis on project submission, publication strategy, talent management, business growth targets (10% YoY), and cross-regional support underscores the operational demands of this role. Candidates should prepare to discuss how they operationalize creative processes, manage distributed teams, and drive business outcomes through design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture required.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture from an accredited program preferred.

Experience:

• Generally, at least 20 years of related experience in design leadership roles or equivalent is required.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience leading others in a design studio or design practice segment required.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrable Design Talent: Proven ability through a design portfolio of significant built and unbuilt work.
• Strong Communication Skills: Aptitude for communicating complex business and design ideas compellingly. Ability to provide inspirational leadership and communicate design aspirations, outcomes, and initiatives effectively.
• Leadership & Management: Ability to manage diverse teams across multiple offices, including basic managerial skills (hiring, design management, creative operations, resource allocation).
• Business Fluency: General understanding of regional and firm business metrics, and ability to translate strategic frameworks into regional growth goals.
• Innovative Thinking: Demonstrated ability to develop innovative design solutions that address complex challenges for people, business, community, society, and the environment.
• Collaborative Approach: Ability to support a culture of collaboration, transparency, safety, and trust, and partner strategically to advance organizational goals.
• Business Centricity: Passion for understanding the business of the firm and its clients, seeking continuous improvement and contributing to financial success through design brand definition and curated work pursuits.
• Professional Acumen & Maturity: Demonstrated ability to communicate authentically and respectfully.

Preferred Skills:

• Current US Architectural Registration preferred.
• Additional accreditation and/or training relevant to this role, including LEED, are preferred.
• Third-party recognition of work as a lead or supporting designer by design awards programs and recognized publications or digital platforms is preferred.
• Strong oral presentation and storytelling skills are required.
• Must be able to understand and execute business strategy.
• Travel required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements (20+ years overall, 3+ years leading teams) highlight a senior-level operational leadership position. The explicit mention of "creative operations" and "business fluency" alongside design skills suggests a need for candidates who can bridge creative vision with practical business management and process optimization. Preparing a portfolio that showcases not just design output but also leadership impact and strategic contributions will be crucial.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Design Impact: Showcase a portfolio of significant built and unbuilt work that clearly illustrates design talent and innovative problem-solving.
• Leadership & Team Management Case Studies: Include examples of how you have led design teams, mentored talent, and fostered collaborative environments, highlighting outcomes related to team growth and performance.
• Business Strategy Integration: Present examples where design initiatives were directly linked to business goals, regional growth, or client success metrics, demonstrating your ability to operationalize strategy.
• Recognition & Publication Strategy: Detail instances where your leadership resulted in third-party recognition, awards, or publications, showcasing your ability to elevate the firm's brand through design excellence.
• Client Engagement & Value Articulation: Provide case studies demonstrating how you have engaged clients, understood their goals, and communicated the value and impact of design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Design Standard Review Frameworks: Be prepared to discuss or present frameworks for establishing and maintaining design standards across multiple offices and projects.
• Talent Development & Mentorship Programs: Outline approaches or programs you have implemented for mentoring designers and developing future leadership talent.
• Creative Operations Management: Demonstrate understanding of managing creative resources, workflows, and talent allocation to ensure efficient and high-quality output.
• Business Development & Growth Strategy: Articulate how you contribute to business development, client selection, and regional growth planning, linking design capabilities to market opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the operational demands of this role, a portfolio should emphasize not just visual design work but also evidence of process management, team leadership, business acumen, and strategic execution. The ability to articulate how design is operationalized for business impact and brand elevation will be key. Demonstrating experience with "creative operations" and "process optimization" within a design context is essential.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Base Compensation: $204,240 - $255,300 annually.
• Note: This is an anticipated range. Actual compensation may vary based on geographic location (though remote is offered, preference is given to East Region offices), work experience, education, and skill level.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.
• Financial Wellness: Flexible Spending Account options and Voluntary Insurances.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid Time Off, Flex-Time Schedules, and Remote Work Options.
• Retirement Planning: 401k Plan.
• Employee Perks: Employee Perk Programs.
• General Overview: A general overview of benefits is available on the CannonDesign careers page.

Working Hours:

• Expected 40 hours per week, reflecting a standard full-time commitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a senior leadership role with significant operational and strategic responsibilities. The inclusion of "remote work options" alongside a preference for specific office locations suggests a hybrid approach or a need for flexibility in physical presence for key regional meetings. The benefits package is robust and typical for a large, established firm, supporting a good work-life balance which is important for roles requiring extensive strategic thinking and team management.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Architecture, Engineering, and Design Services. CannonDesign operates within the professional services sector, focusing on creating impact-driven solutions through design. Company Size: Mid-to-Large (implied by "150 - 300 people spread across multiple local offices" within a region, and a global presence). This size suggests a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for influence. Founded: The founding date is not specified but the company has a significant history and established presence.

Team Structure:

• Regional Leadership: The role is part of a regional leadership team, working alongside a Regional Director and other practice leaders.
• Distributed Design Leadership: The position oversees multiple local offices, each with its own design leadership, requiring coordination and alignment across these distributed teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with marketing, communications, executive teams, and other disciplines within the firm to achieve business and design goals.

Methodology:

• Living-Centered Design: The core philosophy guiding all work, emphasizing solutions that consider people, community, society, and the environment.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Implied through the need for business fluency, understanding metrics, and contributing to strategic growth plans with measurable outcomes.
• Innovation & Experimentation: Encouraged within the design community to challenge the status quo and find novel solutions.
• Client-Centric Approach: A relentless pursuit of client adoration, focusing on delivering exceptional service and building long-term client relationships.

Company Website: https://www.cannondesign.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: CannonDesign's emphasis on "Living-Centered Design" and "client adoration" suggests a culture that values impact, innovation, and strong client relationships. The operational aspect of this role will involve embedding this philosophy into regional processes and team behaviors, ensuring consistency and excellence. The distributed team structure necessitates strong communication and alignment strategies from an operational perspective.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level leadership position, akin to a Vice President or Senior Director of Design Operations within a large firm. It involves strategic oversight, team management, and significant business impact. Reporting Structure: Reports to a higher level of executive leadership within the firm, likely overseeing the East Region or the entire design practice. Collaborates closely with the Regional Director. Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the firm's revenue growth (target of 10% YoY for the region), brand reputation (through design awards and publications), talent acquisition and retention, and the overall strategic direction of the design practice.

Growth Opportunities:

• Firm-Wide Leadership: Potential to advance to broader leadership roles within CannonDesign, potentially overseeing multiple regions or the entire global design practice.
• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the firm's design aspirations and contribute significantly to its strategic framework and business goals.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in operationalizing design, managing distributed creative teams, and driving business development through design innovation.
• Industry Recognition: Enhance personal and firm reputation through thought leadership, speaking engagements, and successful project outcomes.
• Mentorship & Legacy Building: Opportunity to mentor and develop a new generation of design leaders, leaving a lasting impact on the firm's talent pipeline.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant career trajectory for individuals who can successfully balance creative leadership with operational management and strategic business development. Success in this role can position candidates for executive-level positions within the firm or the broader architecture and design industry. The emphasis on "transforming the organization" indicates a mandate for impactful, strategic leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates multiple physical offices within the East Region (Arlington, VA, Baltimore, Boston, New York City), and offers remote work options across the United States. This suggests a hybrid model where employees might work remotely but also engage with physical office spaces for meetings, collaboration, or client presentations. Office Location(s): East Region offices include Arlington, VA, Baltimore, Boston, and New York City. The remote status allows for flexibility, but preference is given to candidates within proximity to these hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative & Distributed: Expect a work environment that blends remote collaboration with potential in-person interactions within regional offices. This requires strong digital collaboration tools and practices.
• Innovation-Focused: The culture supports experimentation and innovation, providing a dynamic workspace for creative problem-solving.
• Cross-Disciplinary Interaction: Opportunities to interact with professionals from various backgrounds (architecture, engineering, marketing, business) to foster integrated solutions.
• Technology Enabled: Access to necessary technology and tools to support design, communication, and project management in a hybrid and remote setting.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility offered through "Flex-Time Schedules" and "Remote Work Options," which is beneficial for managing diverse project demands and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blend of remote work and physical office presence implies a need for operational strategies that support both distributed and co-located teams effectively. Candidates should be adept at managing remote workflows, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities for all team members, regardless of their physical location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application & Screening: Submission of resume and portfolio through the company careers site is the first step. Applications on other platforms should be avoided due to scam risks.
• Portfolio Review: Expect a thorough review of your design portfolio, focusing on built and unbuilt work, design recognition, and leadership impact. Prepare to articulate your role and contributions clearly.
• Interviews with Leadership: Likely involves interviews with regional and executive leadership, assessing design vision, leadership capabilities, business acumen, and cultural fit.
• Presentation/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to present a case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their approach to design challenges, client engagement, and team leadership.
• Cultural Fit Assessment: Evaluation of how well your collaborative approach, innovative mindset, and business-centricity align with CannonDesign's values and Living-Centered Design ethos.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, innovative thinking, and ability to deliver on client goals and business objectives.
• Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, include metrics related to design impact, client satisfaction, team performance, awards, or publications.
• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations to tell a clear narrative about the challenge, your approach, and the successful outcome, highlighting your leadership role.
• Showcase Operational Acumen: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to manage design processes, mentor teams, and contribute to business strategy and growth.
• Address Living-Centered Design: Clearly articulate how your past work reflects principles of Living-Centered Design and your commitment to creating impactful solutions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Strategy Presentation: Be ready to discuss your vision for design excellence in the East Region and how you would operationalize it.
• Team Leadership Scenarios: Prepare to answer questions about managing diverse teams, resolving conflicts, and fostering talent development.
• Business Acumen Questions: Understand the firm's business, its market position, and be prepared to discuss how design contributes to regional growth and financial success.
• Living-Centered Design Application: Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you would apply this philosophy to different project types and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes a strong portfolio that demonstrates both creative prowess and operational leadership. Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic approach to design management, team building, and business development, aligning these with the company's core values and growth objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency with industry-standard architectural design software (e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite) is assumed and essential.
• Project Management Tools: Experience with project management software for tracking progress, resources, and deadlines (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana, Monday.com) would be beneficial for managing regional projects.
• Collaboration Platforms: Expertise in using digital collaboration tools for remote teams (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, Miro, Google Workspace) is critical.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence Tools: Familiarity with BI tools for tracking regional performance metrics, financial results, and growth targets (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) would support the business fluency requirement.
• CRM Systems: Understanding of CRM systems for client management and business development tracking (e.g., Salesforce) could be relevant for growth initiatives.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned for design, understanding how design processes integrate with broader business systems (e.g., ERP, project accounting software) could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is design-focused, the operational aspects require proficiency in tools that facilitate remote collaboration, project management, and business performance tracking. Candidates should be adept at leveraging technology to ensure efficient operations and effective communication across a distributed regional team.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Adoration: A relentless commitment to exceeding client expectations and fostering strong, long-term relationships.
• Living-Centered Design: A core value driving all creative and strategic decisions, focusing on positive impact for people, communities, and the environment.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Encouraging new ideas, challenging the status quo, and fostering a culture of creative risk-taking.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Promoting open communication, mutual respect, and a supportive environment for sharing ideas and feedback.
• Excellence & Accountability: Dedication to high-quality outcomes and taking ownership of responsibilities, from design quality to business growth.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A strong emphasis on partnering with marketing, communications, and other business functions to achieve unified goals.
• Distributed Team Cohesion: Building a sense of community and shared purpose among design leaders and teams spread across multiple offices and working remotely.
• Mentorship & Empowerment: Fostering a culture where senior leaders actively mentor and empower junior talent, promoting continuous learning and growth.
• Feedback-Rich Environment: Encouraging constructive feedback exchange to drive continuous improvement in design processes and team performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate alignment with CannonDesign's values, particularly "Living-Centered Design" and "client adoration." The ability to foster a collaborative and innovative culture, even within a distributed team structure, will be a key differentiator. Highlighting experience in building team cohesion and promoting transparency is crucial.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Distributed Teams: Ensuring consistent design quality, fostering collaboration, and maintaining team morale across multiple offices and remote workers.
• Balancing Creative Vision with Business Goals: Integrating innovative design concepts with the firm's strategic growth targets and financial objectives.
• Elevating Regional Brand Presence: Driving third-party recognition and publications to enhance the firm's reputation and attract new business.
• Developing Future Leaders: Identifying, mentoring, and retaining high-potential designers to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the region and the firm.
• Adapting to Evolving Design Trends: Staying ahead of industry innovations and client needs to ensure the firm remains a leader in impact-driven design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Training: Opportunities to hone skills in business strategy, financial management, and executive leadership.
• Industry Conferences & Thought Leadership: Participation in major industry events to share insights and stay abreast of emerging trends.
• Mentorship from Executive Leadership: Direct guidance and learning from senior leaders within CannonDesign.
• Cross-Regional Project Involvement: Opportunity to contribute to or learn from initiatives in other regions, broadening perspective and experience.
• Specialization in Living-Centered Design: Deepening expertise in this core philosophy and its application across diverse project types.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexity of leading a dispersed creative team while driving business results. Success in this role will require strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a proactive approach to talent development and strategic planning. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for career advancement within a forward-thinking design firm.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Vision for Regional Design Excellence: "Describe your vision for design excellence in the East Region and outline the operational steps you would take to achieve it, considering our Living-Centered Design ethos." (Focus on process, standards, and team enablement.)
• Team Building & Performance: "How would you foster a collaborative and high-performing design community across multiple offices and remote team members? Provide examples of how you've managed and mentored design talent." (Highlight your operational approach to team dynamics.)
• Business Integration: "How do you ensure design initiatives directly contribute to regional growth targets and the firm's financial success? Discuss your experience in translating design strategies into business outcomes." (Emphasize your business fluency and ROI thinking.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Living-Centered Design Application: "How do you interpret and apply the principles of Living-Centered Design in your leadership and project work? Provide specific examples." (Show your understanding and alignment with the core philosophy.)
• Collaboration in a Distributed Environment: "Describe your approach to building strong working relationships and fostering collaboration with diverse teams located remotely and in different offices." (Focus on operational communication and engagement strategies.)
• Measuring Impact: "How do you measure the success of design initiatives and the impact of your leadership on both client outcomes and business performance?" (Prepare to discuss metrics and reporting.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: For each project presented, clearly articulate the client's goals, the design challenge, your specific role and leadership, the operational processes used, and the quantifiable results (design awards, publications, client satisfaction, business impact).
• Highlight Leadership & Operations: Emphasize your contributions to team development, process improvements, and strategic alignment, not just the final design output.
• Demonstrate Business Acumen: Connect your design work to business objectives, client success, and regional growth potential.
• Engage and Interact: Be prepared for interactive Q&A, demonstrating your ability to articulate complex ideas and respond thoughtfully to inquiries about your operational approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of how design leadership translates into operational excellence and business success. Candidates need to articulate their strategies for managing teams, driving innovation, and achieving measurable results, firmly grounding their responses in the company’s values and business objectives.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the CannonDesign Careers site: Ensure you apply directly via the provided URL (http://www.cannondesign.com/careers/?gh_jid=8112546002) and never through unsolicited platforms due to potential scam risks.
• Prepare a comprehensive portfolio: Curate a selection of your best work that highlights not only design excellence but also your leadership, operational management of design teams, and contributions to business growth and client success. Include clear metrics and storytelling for each project.
• Tailor your resume for operational leadership: Emphasize keywords related to design leadership, operations, team management, business strategy, client relations, and innovation. Quantify your achievements where possible to demonstrate impact.
• Research CannonDesign's Living-Centered Design: Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the company's core philosophy and its application in their projects and culture. Be prepared to discuss how you embody and promote these principles.
• Practice your presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear communication, compelling storytelling, and articulating your operational strategies for team development and business impact. Be ready to answer questions about how you manage creative operations and drive regional growth.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.