Senior Director, Architecture & Design - CORP

Live Your Passion.  Add Your Magic.             

Montage International (MI) seeks to collaborate with our owner, investor, and design partners to deliver exceptional properties that continue to build on our artistic collection of distinctive luxury hotels, resorts, and residences.  The efforts of the Design and Development Services (DDS) team guide the creation and thoughtful positioning of memorable and unique design solutions that reflect the Montage and Pendry brand philosophies and exceed our guests’ and residents’ expectations.  The DDS team provides the knowledge and resources to ensure the unique requirements and operational relationships in front-of-house and back-of-house areas of each property are optimized, and all our hotel, resort and residential properties conform to MI’s uniformly high standards.

The Senior Director, Architecture & Design (Sr. Director, A&D) supports the architectural, interior design, design management and capital planning processes for existing property owners and new project partners.    The services required for each project may vary according to its unique circumstances whether the project is a new-build, conversion, or capital improvement for an existing MI property. The Sr. Director, A&D supports activities such as:

• Program collaboration to achieve optimal positioning in each market,
• Design and concept vision,
• Fully support the design review process providing collaborative input both internally and externally
• Design input, collaboration, coordination and review across all design disciplines to ensure compliance with Montage and Pendry brand guidelines and forward-thinking design direction

As a key senior member of the Design and Development Services team, the Sr. Director A&D helps initiate the design of each MI project with strong communication, effective collaboration and adherence to robust, consistent process.  This position requires a motivated self-starter with personal integrity, business ethics and ability to work in a team.  Time management, leadership and personal effectiveness skills are crucial for the Sr. Director A&D to reinforce processes and tools to strengthen the DDS team, in addition to excellent communication, organization, and computer skills. 

Job duties include and are not limited to:

• Coordinating with MI senior executives (e.g. Founder & CEO, Creative Director, EVP Development, and others) to ensure each project incorporates unique design vision while maintaining consistency and uniformity of each brand. 
• Creating project Design Narratives, as needed, in collaboration with the MI Executive Team, to set the design vision and strategic approach for new and existing properties, as needed.
• Leading the review and collaboration with partners for initial design phases until the end of SD or DD according to project needs, as directed by the EVP Development and SVP Architecture & Design.
• Understanding and actively engaging in education of MI Brand Guidelines to ensure alignment of brand, resident and guest experience and operational needs:
  • Knowledge of existing properties and incorporating operational feedback from guest experience or operational challenges.
  • Helping to lead informal but educational “jam session” reviews of selected sections of the Brand Guidelines, to support ongoing learning and development for the DDS team.
  • Providing tools and exhibits to assist consultants with engaging and applying MI Brand Guidelines rigorously and consistently across all projects.
  • Providing feedback for annual or bi-annual guideline updates.
• Presenting alternative solutions to architectural, interior design, FF&E, engineering and construction issues to help resolve conflict and/or strategically substitute without compromising guest experience, as needed.
• Providing mentorship, guidance and support to DDS Directors and Managers in an environment that encourages teamwork, mutual respect and Associate satisfaction during all stages of project design and construction, including but not limited to:
  • Clarifying Consultant scope and deliverables with design team;
  • Reviewing project design presentations with DDS Directors/Managers as needed to ensure compliance with Brand Guidelines and coaching DDS Directors/Managers to provide appropriate commentary and feedback for each stage of design;
  • Reviewing all relevant plans, addendums, submittals, value engineering decisions,  fabrics/materials, finishes, mockups etc with Principals (AF, MF) and Creative Director;
  • Aligning templates for Model Room reviews to establish appropriate and consistent approval/acceptance criteria. This may include attending select Model Room reviews.
  • Guiding DDS Directors/Managers to present alternative solutions to design, technical, FF&E and construction issues to help resolve conflict and strategically substitute without compromising guest experience.
• Ensuring that updates regarding major project changes, risks and challenges are communicated to the EVP Development, SVP Architecture & Design and MI Executive Committee consistently and in a timely fashion, distilling issues to provide a concise but balanced perspective. 
• Supporting the DDS team’s Capex leader with preparation of design narratives as needed for major renovations to support the positioning of MI properties in their respective markets.  Reviewing certain FF&E updates and selections as requested by the DDS Capex leader.
• Collaborating with SVP A&D and VP DDS to provide project Owners with consultant recommendations.  Reviewing RFP documents and templates in collaboration with SVP A&D and VP DDS to identify potential scope of work gaps and ensure the project team is well-coordinated. 
• Supporting the DDS team to reinforce strategic relationships with consultants, designers, industry vendors and staying attuned to trends (both domestic and international) and tastemakers.
• Supporting the Acquisitions & Development team when requested to assess existing assets or prospective development sites.
• Generating or contributing to Preliminary Area Programs (PAP) and Property Improvement Plans to inform the programming, planning and design of new-build and major renovation projects in collaboration with the Acquisitions & Development team.
• Maintaining and encouraging open and trusted lines of communication to ensure efficient, complete, and consistent flow of information to create strong internal and external alignment. Skillfully balancing the needs of all stakeholders and potential competing priorities with collaborative problem resolution.
• Focusing on internal and external relations; selling ideas persuasively, settling differences and winning concessions without damaging relationships.  Be both direct and forceful while remaining diplomatic and respectful.  Bring all constituents along on the journey through influence without direct authority.
• Serving as a role model of Montage International’s culture and values.  Promoting teamwork, maximizing productivity and delivering excellence toward operating an efficient and effective organization. At all times, demonstrating and promoting the highest level of professionalism and integrity.
• Performing other job-related duties as appropriate.

• Bachelor's degree in architecture (or foreign equivalent) plus 15 years of progressively responsible experience as a corporate-level executive of architecture, design, and construction for a multi-national hospitality company. Ideal experience would include:
  • Extensive knowledge of domestic and international luxury hospitality projects including new construction, expansions, renovations, capital planning and rebranding projects.
  • Site and facility reviews; feasibility, construction, and budget analysis; pre-design vision and strategy.
  • Managing multiple complicated projects simultaneously in a complex, service-intensive, deadline driven environment.
  • Overseeing all stages of hotel design and construction including project schedules, design and construction process and sequence.
  • Proven ability to read and understand full architectural and engineering construction documents, specifications, construction submittals etc., to ensure compliance to guidelines.
  • Excellent general knowledge of construction materials and methods and specific knowledge pertaining to the design and construction of luxury hotels.

• The position requires a motivated self-starter with a high level of personal integrity and business ethics.
• The ability to sell ideas persuasively, settle differences and win concessions without damaging relationships.  Can be both direct and forceful while remaining diplomatic and respectful.
• The ability to mentor and be an effective motivator of other team members, includes providing constructive feedback to affect positive change in colleagues and process.
• Excellent writing and organizational skills, with the ability to take large volumes of complex information and present it in a clear and concise manner appropriate for decision-making.
• Disciplined adherence to schedules and consistent performance on deliverables.
• Consistent attention to detail, with an understanding of luxury guest experience and an ability to value-engineer without compromising design intent or quality.
• Excellent listening, oral and written communication skills to focus the efforts of entire staff to meet the corporate goals.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and knowledge of Adobe Acrobat, Bluebeam, Procore, PlanGrid preferred. AutoCAD would be an asset. Desire to learn new technologies as required.
• Ability to travel 25% - 75% at times depending on location and intensity of projects.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Most work tasks are performed indoors. Must be able to sit at a desk for up to 6 hours per day. Walking and standing are often required for the rest of the working day. This may include traveling to and from meetings, as well as travelling to properties and construction sites for on-site installation support as required.

The pay scale for this position is from $171,200 - $214,000.00. The pay scale is the base salary or hourly wage range, exclusive of incentive pay such as commissions, piece rates, gratuities, and the like, that Montage reasonably expects to pay for the position. Please let us know if you have any questions.

In the United States we are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.