Interior Design Practice Leader - Firm

In this role you will focus first on the growth and impact of the practice and its contribution to the firm, including the quality of creative work produced; second on your own client and project leadership responsibilities; and third on external activities that advance the firm’s, the practice’s, and your personal brand and presence in the marketplace, positioning CannonDesign as one of the most innovative, creative, and highly regarded design firms in the world. 

Areas of Focus:

 Growth and Impact 

• Design Excellence: You will be accountable for design excellence, innovation and overall design quality in the practice. This responsibility will include regular touchpoints with leaders and others in your practice; holding virtual and in-person design reviews; and providing oversight of third-party recognition, including publication of projects in design and market-specific media outlets, as well as other potential opportunities for publication such as articles on research and innovation. Your practice will be expected to regularly submit and successfully win design awards, contributing to Firm portfolio. 
• Practice Leadership: Responsible for developing and advancing strategic initiatives that advance an innovative practice. As our Strategic Framework states, you must be willing to “develop the highest potential, best opportunities for strategic differentiation – our competitive advantages – and take them further, faster.”   Working with other leaders in your practice, you will lead the development of the Practice Business Plan. This plan will outline strategies and actionable items that improve the practice by identifying and advancing new opportunities, client engagement and development, market differentiation, brand recognition, and team building/leadership, all in concert with firm-wide goals. You will develop and lead a diverse team of creatives, building a practice community with a strong sense of connection and identity. You will ensure the recruitment of top-tier talent and the functioning of high-performance teams, holding leaders in your practice accountable for the mentorship and growth of the next generation. 
•  Practice Growth: Identify future trends and opportunities for the growth of the practice, both internally through our integrated platform, and externally with new prime market and business opportunities. Demonstrate the highest level of knowledge of design practice, including future growth opportunities, new and innovative practices in addition to best practices, and design initiatives that leverage and expand the capabilities of the firm.  
• Top Line Development: Collaborate with Regional, Market, Service, and Office Leaders and other firm-wide resources to focus on growing the top line of the firm by identifying and/or actively participating in the pursuit of new target clients as well as nurturing existing ones. Additionally, you will identify and pursue “prime” client opportunities promoting the full range of our integrated design services. In this role you will have a personal minimum goal of achieving top line success of $3.0M per year in net signed fees in addition to setting top line development goals for the overall growth of the Practice.  
• Bottom Line Success: Collaborate with the Regional Director, Regional Process Director, Office Practice Leader, and Market Leaders to ensure that the business plan bottom line initiatives are successfully implemented. Achieve at a minimum the firm’s profitability goals for each year. 

Client and project leadership:  You will possess the drive to challenge the status quo and find new solutions. You will share the responsibilities of senior design leaders, leading select clients to innovative design concepts that synthesize our clients’ culture, goals, and aspirations with the needs of people, community, society and the environment. Deliver solutions uniquely responsive to this expanded view of design impact. Lead design presentations, with an emphasis on storytelling and aiding client understanding of the design. Capture and communicate key client goals and metrics and how our design solutions add value. 

Brand Development: You will be a leading voice for how our Living-Centered Design ethos is translated through our work with clients, as well as the unique qualities, capabilities and aspirations of your practice and your personal leadership of that practice. Partner with marketing and communications teams to build strong narratives and communicate the impact of our work nationally. Represent the firm and practice externally at speaking events that continually support the overall brand and direction of the firm. Write, speak and communicate externally through 3-5 venues annually. You will work with communications teams annually to identify strategic placement / speaking opportunities. 

 ABOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor's degree in interior design, interior architecture or architecture required.
• Current NCIDQ certification preferred.
• 18 years minimum experience in a design leadership role, of which a minimum of 5 years are leading others in a design studio or design practice segment required.  
• Additional accreditation and/or training relevant to this role is preferred, including LEED.  
• Design portfolio of significant built and unbuilt work. Third party recognition of your work as a lead or supporting design role by local, regional, or national design awards programs and recognized design publications or digital platforms is preferred.  
• Strong oral presentation and storytelling skills required.  
• Must be able to understand and execute business strategy.  
• Must have professional acumen and maturity demonstrated by the ability to communicate authentically and respectfully.  
• Build a creative culture and a community that makes space for exploration. Inspire others. 
• Demonstrate creativity and innovation and champion the same in others.  
• Translate our Living-Centered Design ethos through our work. 
• Be a partner to others: champion SFMO and collaboration, show fairness in actions and decisions, always putting our firm first. 
• Build our Brand - Be connected externally. Be visible. 
• Champion an ethical culture and hold others accountable for the same. 
• Demonstrate ownership and accountability. 
• Demonstrate sound judgment and business acumen.
• Demonstrate optimistic and inclusive leadership of a diverse team.
• Travel required.   

• We are relentless in our pursuit of client adoration (not simply satisfaction). Consistent delivery of the best service is what we are about.
• We are committed to ensuring our practice is equitable for all employees, representative of the communities around us – and focused on the future of design. We advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts through the leadership of our DEI Council, Employee Resource Groups and other community advocacy initiatives
• We’re about communication and transparency here. If you want to talk to someone about an idea you have, or a challenge that needs addressing, we’re ready for you.